To truly live . . .

I like to think that by this point in my life, I'm bullet proof; I like to think it, I didn't say it was true. The fact is, that I am engaged in what Paul called "working out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Not easy, not easy at all. You see we have somehow redefined the terms that meant death, and changed them to gum drops and lollipops. Frankly, that is why people only get so far in their faith, and then check out. They are not prepared for the truth.

There was a popular song several years ago, and the lyrics of the chorus were: giving, caring, loving, sharing these are the marks of the cross. Oh, it sounds pretty, but it's nonsense. The marks of the cross are the marks of a torturous death. Being beaten, scourged and having nails driven into your hands and feet: these, dear soul, are the marks of the cross. But somehow, we interpret Christ saying, "If any man will come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me" to mean, go get a three bedroom two bath house, two cars and a fully funded retirement, and of course any trinkets that you must have along the way. Oh, and come to church on Sundays, won't you.

The indisputable fact at hand is that we are all going to die, the lost as well as the saved. The only thing left up for grabs, is how we are going to get there. That is why this country is obsessed with anything that keeps "me" from the inevitable. That is absolutely why we have such difficulty with evangelism; because, we are scared to death of what we have to offer. So, is that what we are to say? Come to this Christ, knowing that you will die? Is that enough? Yes, dear one, it is more than enough: because, we are not offering gum drops and lollipops, we are offering Christ! And only He has the words of life.

Faith that changes lives Part III

For those of you who think what I right is somehow easy to me; it most certainly is not! You see before I write or preach any of this to you, I have to wrestle with the conviction brought to bear on my own life. If you think I or any other preacher, who rightly delivers God's word, some how get to a point where it is "easy" for them to say; you have no idea what you are talking about. It is a burden that we can barely live with, and the very same burden that we can not live without. And in saying that, don't you think for a moment that I regret what I have been called to do.

But this is what I have come to understand, that I am not alive without Christ. And this is what I so desperately want to get across to you dear soul, that you are not truly alive without Him. Let's, for a moment, throw out all of the terms: I am talking about someone who truly wants to know Christ. Because, if that is Who you truly want to know: it will change your life. When you are willing to put down the "I wants" and exchange them all for, "How could this Christ love me so?" God will begin doing an amazing work in you.

What do I have to promise you for taking this path? you may ask. If I could say "nothing," it would be so much easier than what I am about to say. Death is what I have to offer for this path. I am not kidding, and I am not apologizing. If you truly want to know Christ, you'll taste the same things that He tasted. Spending, in the fullest sense of the term, your life, is what I am talking about. Pouring out your life for the good of others. By others, I don't mean a throng of people who say thank you, I love you or bless you; some might, but most won't. I mean people who don't like you, hate you or try to harm you. But the very thing that works death in us: works life in them! So, what's the upside to signing up to die: you may change some one's life for good and always.