Please keep in mind that this article was written with the mature brother and sister in Christ in mind!
For those of us who’ve followed Christ for ten years or longer, we need to answer a simple and straightforward question with respect to our Christian life. What is that question? Here it is:
“What Do We Bring To The Table?”
Here are some questions to help bring this message home:
Do we really have a daily relationship with Christ, or are we just faking it? If we have a daily relationship with Christ, then it should show in our lives. How so? Here are three ways it must show:
A. Answered prayers.
B. A transformed life.
C. Weekly activity within His Kingdom.
A. Answered prayers – If we truly follow Christ, then we talk with Christ often. We may not pray as much as we feel we should, but we do pray often. AND, because we have prayed a lot over the years, we have a few handfuls of specific prayers that have been answered in our lives as well as the lives of people we’ve prayed for. Who have we prayed for? We’ve prayed for family members, friends, co-workers, former co-workers, classmates, old and current acquaintances, government officials, neighbors, our pastor / priest, fellow congregants, local churches, foreign missionaries and ministries, etc…
B. A transformed life – If we truly follow Christ, our life was transformed by Him at either our conversion or in the years that followed. What does a transformed life look like? For starters, there are elements in our new life that look nothing like the old person we used to be. In short, when our lives are transformed by Christ’s power, we gain a glimpse of God’s love, mercy or holiness and it compels us to change and become more like Him. Whether we smile more often because of the joy that has been placed within our hearts, or we stop doing old and destructive habits, or we take on new and adventurous ones, those around us take notice of the new creation in Christ!
C. Weekly activity in His Kingdom – As a devout follower of Christ, we get it. We understand the importance and impact of eternity. Eternity is on our mind every day. It takes precedence over many things in our lives. Whether the activity in God’s Kingdom is talking with others about His Kingdom, giving resources to a particular ministry, involving ourselves in a particular ministry or just praying for folks in our home and community, being involved in Christ’s Kingdom is fresh on our mind each day because we understand we are His Children, His Servants and His Bride. We have been commanded to stay busy in His Kingdom until He returns, and so that is what we do!
Why are these areas so important? Consider the following questions that many have asked:
- If this “Jesus” thing is so good, give me five good reasons why you trust in it?
- If you have this “supposed” relationship with God, He answers your prayers, right?
- If I were to consider giving my life to Christ, what evidence can you show me in your life that would demonstrate that God not only exists, but that He truly cares for you?
If you, as a mature Christian, have been around the church for ten or more years, and you don’t have any evidence of answered prayers in your life, you don’t bring much to the table other than your beliefs.
And, if your life has not been transformed by the power of Christ, you don’t bring much to the table other than your religious duties.
Finally, if you are a mature Christian and you are not actively involved in Christ Kingdom on a weekly basis, you won’t bring much to the table at the Judgment Seat of Christ. You will enter God’s Kingdom like the thief on the Cross – one who possesses eternal life, but because of a wasted life, they’ll have no rewards to show for their service to their Lord.
So, if you don’t bring much to the table – other than your stated beliefs and religious duties – how can anyone believe that Christ lives within your heart?
Why am I writing this? I am writing these things to encourage my mature brothers and sisters in Christ to get up off of their duffs and to do what our Lord commanded us to do. The days of JUST going to church on Sunday mornings and calling ourselves “Christian” should be over. We need to demonstrate to a lost world that Jesus Christ not only rose from the grave (something no other religious leader ever accomplished), but that He is active within the lives of those who devote themselves to Him.
So, pray. Trust. Do. And repeat!
For those of you who are young in the Lord, please be encouraged by this article. Make the time to pray. Seek after the Lord with all of you heart and allow His Spirit and His Word to transform your heart and mind. And finally, find a work to do within His kingdom – for The Scriptures tell us He is coming soon and His reward is with Him (Revelation 22:12)!
In His Name,
Roy
