When we talk about being a Christian, sometimes people get confused about what that truly means. Just because you go to church every week doesn't mean you're a Christian. Pastor Greg Laurie put it this way: "Going into a church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going into a donut shop makes you a cop." There's a lot more to being a Christian than just showing up, yet that's where so many believers stop. If we truly believe Jesus died for us, our lives should be a reflection of that sacrifice. We should be filled to the brim with overwhelming gratitude for what Jesus has done and shine His light to everyone around us.
We can't effectively serve God if we're on the fence about Him. Fellow believers, if we are going to claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we need to be on fire for Him! You may be asking, what's wrong with being lukewarm? Well, the lukewarm believer doesn't live out their faith effectively. If nonbelievers look at lukewarm Christianity, they're not going to want it. Why should someone want to show up at church without a passion for Christ? Why would someone choose to believe in Jesus if they don't read the Bible to understand who Jesus really is? What's the point of even saying you're a believer if the way you live your life doesn't shine for Jesus? I believe that when judgment day rolls around, these are some of the people to whom Jesus will say "I never knew you", because they didn't live out God's will in their lives (see Matthew 7: 21-23).
Following Jesus is a vital part of believing in Him. If we believe in Jesus, but don't live like we believe in Jesus, then we have no place with Him now or in eternity. God wishes we would be hot or cold! But too many people are neither and will be punished for it when judgment day arrives, not realizing that their self-proclaimed Christianity was not enough to save them if they stayed lukewarm. Yes, the classic verse of John 3:16 says that anyone believing in Jesus will have eternal life, but that belief should actually mean something to you. If I just believe Jesus died for my sins, but I keep on living in sin regardless, then what's the point of even having that belief? What we believe shapes who we are, and while God does love us and want to save us, He will only truly save those whose hearts reflect their belief in God, which should lead to action for true believers.
We ought to be on fire for Jesus! Fire doesn't stay in one place if it can help it. It spreads. It's unpredictable and can move quickly and fiercely and impact a huge area in a matter of moments. When we're living on fire for Christ, we can have an immense impact in the kingdom of God! But when we're staying lukewarm, we're just sitting, staying right where we are without growing or spreading or making any difference at all. This is a huge mistake for believers. If we are living for God, we should be spreading like wildfire and touching everything and everyone around us with the heat of the Holy Spirit. Our passion for Christ be pushing us forward, leading us to new and unexpected places, and making us uncomfortable. We can't stay lukewarm for Christ, we have to be on fire for Him. Granted, we can start by warming up a little bit at a time. We can start by reading Scripture, serving, starting conversations about Christ, and simply doing more than we are now, but we should keep growing and learning and doing more in the name of Jesus. Colossians 3 says that everything we do should be for Jesus. James 2 teaches that our faith and what we do should go hand-in-hand. Our actions should be a representation of our faith, not separate from it. Don't just claim to believe without doing anything about it. Don't stay lukewarm! Make the first move towards Jesus! Start by choosing to accept Him and then start living for Him!
Many Christians today need a spiritual warm-up. You can't experience the walk of faith by sitting on the fence. I know the fence may seem like a safe place to stay, but you really need to pick a side before you fall onto the side you'd rather not be on. You have to choose to be a sheep or a goat. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches that the He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. There is no fence in this scenario, just right or left, and if you haven't chosen a side by then, He's going to choose for you and you're not going to like the outcome. We can't be lazy Christians, sitting around until Christ comes back again. There's a reason why it's called a walk of faith. It involves actually walking, moving, and taking action for Jesus. It's not a seat of faith, it's a journey that involves growth and overcoming obstacles and making a difference in the world. God even gives us resources to help us on this journey. He's got an entire set of armor to prepare us for our walk with Him! Ephesians 6 describes belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, gospel-ready feet, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit. It's the road less traveled for a reason, because it involves actually fighting our way through the obstacles along the path. It's not an easy walk by any means, but the destination is worth it.
When talking with my husband about being a Christian, he once said, "It's not a great job, but the retirement benefits are AMAZING!" Once we've accepted Christ and started warming up, we can really get moving on the job He's given us: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20). We've got a job and a traveling buddy, known as the Holy Spirit, who guides us, gives us the words to say, helps us understand the Bible, and even prays to God for us when we need. We've literally been given everything we need for this journey, and we know the end result is worth it, but we can't start walking until we get off that fence.
Are you ready to start warming up for Jesus?
Note: If you have any questions or want to know more about what Christian living looks like, feel free to comment or reach out to me via email or Facebook. I'd love to answer any questions and have some fire-starting conversations with you.
Comments
Post a Comment