If you are a Christian, can you honestly say you are following Jesus? Do you obey him? I’m not talking about believing in him and agreeing with his teachings. I’m not talking about going to church or being member in a church. Are you doing what Jesus commanded? He said:
[Matthew 7:24-27] Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
What God wants is for you to desire him, seek him, love him, trust and obey him. Are you doing that? Take a few moments to reflect on your life. Do you put God first as he commanded? How much time do you spend with God, thinking of him, praying to him? Do you read and meditate on the Bible? Do you fast? Do you help those in need? Be honest with yourself and you will have an accurate assessment of your true spiritual condition.
True Christianity is knowing God and having a relationship with him through Jesus, not following a set of rules. Without a true relationship with God, church attendance and religious activities are useless. Churches are full of people who are religious but don’t really love God. This is what Jesus said of such people:
[Matthew 15:7-9] You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
Here is the plain truth: If you don’t obey Jesus and don’t have a desire to please him, then you don’t know him, and your faith is dead. Your worship is mere lip service. You’re stuck in dead religion and dead religious practices.
Many claim to believe in Jesus, but few truly obey him. Many are religious, but few are righteous. Few love and follow Jesus. Very few are willing to take a stand for him and defend his standard of holiness before this godless generation. They enjoy their comfortable lifestyles and are not willing to pay any price.
Remember what Jesus said about the narrow way?
[Matthew 7:13-14] Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
[Luke 13:24] Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
When was the last time you heard this in your church?
Both Jesus and John the Baptist warned:
[Matthew 3:10][Matthew 7:19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Are you bearing good fruit? Do you know what will happen to you if you don’t? Jesus said:
[John 15:1-6] I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. … Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
The faith of most Christians is a placebo. It makes them feel good, thinking that God is pleased with them, that they are on their way to heaven, yet all the while they are still in the world, a friend of the world and an enemy of God.
[1 John 2:15-16] Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
[James 4:4] You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
If this describes you, you will find out when you die that you have believed a lie, but it will be forever too late. Jesus will tell most Christians:
[Matthew 7:23] I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
What will he say to you?
I encourage you to get on your knees and ask Jesus to show you where you stand with him. Don’t assume anything. Be humble and willing to admit that you might not be right with him. Be willing to admit that some of the things you believe might be wrong.
Jesus told the religious people of his day:
[John 5:39-40] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
Have you come to Jesus? Are you truly following him? Or are you just religious? If you are not sure, ask Jesus to show you the truth. It’s important to have a love for truth and a teachable heart, because only truth sets free, not lies.
Remember what Jesus said. Only a few will find the narrow way to life. Most won’t. If you end up in the wrong destination when you die, you will only have yourself to blame.
The good news is that there is still hope. As long as you are alive you can still change your eternal destiny. If you realize you are not right with God, humble yourself and repent.