Living for Jesus: It's been a process for me

I made the first move toward being a Christ-follower in my room at age 10 or 11. Unlike some people who had a definite conversion from darkness to light, mine has been a process. When I was in high school, I was baptized but I didn’t really begin to develop my own faith until my third year of college.

While a student at Rosedale Bible Institute that year, I went through some tough physical problems that really challenged my faith and purpose for living. As the year progressed and I got my health under control, I made a new commitment to live all-out for Christ. I wished I could say that commitment has never waned but I slipped back into mediocrity. My faith was still important to me but it was convenient to hide it in public places where Christ isn’t so popular. Plus, when I was in Chicago, I think I had an irrational fear that someone might take advantage of me if they knew I was a Christian. Aren’t Christian supposed to be pushovers because they’re supposed to love everyone? I’ve since learned that loving someone doesn’t mean you stop using discernment.

This past year, I have endured the stresses of lost relationship and learning a new job. Amid these struggles, God is teaching me to give 100% to my work and to people. It’s not always easy to walk His way but I am experiencing a newfound joy. Jesus’ main ministry on earth was to love people, especially the “unlovables.” God has blessed me with a few friends right now who are just learning to walk the Kingdom road. I’m learning in a fresh way what it means to surrender my life to Christ. If they are to continue to grow, I must learn to love people and to love Christ with a passion and commitment that is irresistible. I still strike out a lot, but I want everyone I encounter to see Jesus in a way that makes them hungry. I guess I’m saying that if my faith isn’t real, relevant, and convicting, my life’s worthless.

I must give my all so I will have no regrets when I frolic, sing and shout on the golden streets of Home for eternity. The party is one you won’t want to miss. If you miss out, you will face eternal separation from the Creator who designed hell not for humans but for the enemy Satan and his evil entourage. God is just. He must remove all wickedness from His sight. But, as Keith Green sang in his song “The Sheep and the Goats,” take heart, for on that Judgment Day He will say to the righteous, “Enter into your rest.” And what a rest that will be!