At some point in your life, you responded to the Gospel. At that moment you experienced new birth. You were made alive. New life in Christ is now yours.
The encouragement of Scripture is that you take hold of the eternal life to which you were called (1 Timothy 6:17). The Christopher translation reads, “Grab it and live it.”
It sounds so good and simple. It’s what you want.
What is holding you back?
Here are three issues I’ve wrestled with.
- Fear of the unknown – New life is just that, new. That means it’s different, unfamiliar and requires change. Change is not something we take to readily, because we are not sure of the benefits. Turn that fear into faith. Trust the One who loves you and gave His life for you. His life is the best, nothing can compare.
- What will other people think of me – The opinions of others are very important to us. What they think matters. I certainly don’t want people to think I’m a religious fanatic. I read this quote recently: “It’s been said that when people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate one another.” What really matters is what God thinks. His opinion is better than anyone else’s. Trust what He has to say.
- Does the world have something better to offer – The world is an attractive place on the surface. It markets itself very well. For longest time I was “Mr. Noncommittal.” I was always waiting for something better to come along. The world doesn’t offer anything that can compare to Christ. The only way to find out is to take hold, jump in and live. It takes courage, but experiencing His life is worth everything.
Have you wrestled with any of these issues? Are there other issues that have held you back?
We are talking about this on the radio program today. Call with your story or questions. The number is 800-677-9377. Or post your questions in the comment section.
What held me back were the modern day pharisees attempt to organize what is essentially an organism.The same problem existed for me in the practice of medicine
When will feel what is the Benefits of serving God , read the following message of how God can use us to be Rescuers.
Let Us Be Rescuers
We have a Divine Purpose from God & His Son.
(Luke 19:10, Jesus said he came). . . to seek
and to save the lost. And since Christ is re-living
His life in us by His Spirit, He wants to work in and
through us to: seek and to save the lost.
Why? What does it matter?
Because in Rev. 20:14-15 it says, (14) And death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. (15) And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life was cast into the lake
of fire.
So we are God’s “Firemen” to rescue them
from the lake of fire.
How?
By letting them know how to receive Jesus by
accepting His shed blood to take away all their sins
to make them holy so God’s Holy Spirit can come
to dwell within them to give them eternal life and so
God can put their names into the book of life. Then
they won’t have to be cast into the lake of fire.
We are also God’s “Life Guards”.
We can throw “life preservers” to them to save
them from “drowning” in their sins’ and accept the
sin forgiving blood of Jesus.
2 Cor. 5:20-21 says, (20) Now then we are ambassadors
for Christ. . . (21) For he (God) hath made
him (Christ) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him
(in Christ).
Isn’t that great! We have God’s righteousness
because Jesus took our sins and gave us His perfect
righteousness!
God has also assigned us to be His “Light
Houses”. 2 Cor. 4:6, For God, who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ. (7) But we have this treasure
in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power
may be of God, and not of us.
Isaiah 60:1, Arise, shine; for thy light is come,
and the glory of the LORD is risen upon them.
Matt. 5:14-15, Ye (we) are the light of the
world. . . (15) Neither do men light a candle, and
put it under a bushel (don’t hide your light), but on a
candlestick (a lamp stand); and it giveth light unto
all that are in the house.
We are also God’s “Farmers”.
What do farmers do? They sow seed on the
ground. And that’s what we are to do. We are to sow
the “seed” (which is the good news of the gospel
of Jesus Christ) into the “ground” (which is the world
around us).
Isaiah 55:11, So shall my word be that goeth forth
out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void. . . .
Matt. 13:23, But he that received seed into the
good ground is he that heareth the word. . . .
Luke 8: 11. . . The seed is the word of God.
Luke 8: (15) But that on the good ground are they,
which in an honest and good heart, having heard the
word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
(16). . . lighteth a candle (Shares God’s Word and
doesn’t hide it).
1 Peter 1:23, Being born again. . .by the word of
God, which (Who) liveth and abideth for ever (which
is the living Word). (25) But the word of the Lord
endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:23, 25.
2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist. . .
Why should we do all this?
So after receiving Jesus, we and the people we
rescue can receive new bodies from God when Jesus
returns!
1 Cor. 15:52, In a moment. . . the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible
(fleshly body we now live in) must put on incorruption
(will put on a new body like Jesus’).
1 Cor. 15:53). . . and this mortal must put on
immortality (put on a new body that will never die
again).
How can we get the power and boldness to be a
witness (to sow the seed) of Jesus?
Acts 1:8, But ye shall receive power, after that
the Holy Ghost (The Spirit of God) is come upon
you: and ye (we) shall be witnesses unto me (unto
Jesus) in Jerusalem (around the city we now live in),
and in all Judaea (around our state & nation). . . and
unto the uttermost part (parts) of the earth.
Rejoice and thank God that He through Christ
will give us the Power and His own Spirit to make
us His: “Rescuers”, Ambassadors, “Firemen”,
“Life Guards”, “Light Houses”, and “Farmers” to
rescue the lost from going into the lake of fire.
(Read Rev. 20:14-15).
And instead, be able to receive a new, eternal
body like Jesus’ when He returns in all of His glory
as KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Read
Rev. 19:16; 17:14; 1 Timothy 6:15).
After Jesus reigns for a thousand years on this
earth, there will be a new earth to dwell with God and
Jesus forever. (Read Rev. 20:4; 21:1-7).