Are you a BELIEVER, an UN-BELIEVER, or a MAKEBELIEVER?
Alexander the Great was a great general. He had numerous missions to conquer the world and was known for his bravery in the heat of battle. He was a heroic and an inspirational leader. The story has it that in one actual battle, there was a man serving who was lagging behind the rest of the soldiers. He was a bit of a coward and fearful of engaging the enemy. Alexander the Great confronted the man by asking: “What is your name?” “Alexander,” he sheepishly responded.To which Alexander the Great replied, “Sir do not stain the name Alexander. Either get in the battle or change your name.”
Christian, either get in the battle or change your name.That name is and has been used and abused in so many circles that, many people do not have a clear definition of what it means to be a Christian. Often, it means a list of things that the person used to do but doesn’t do anymore— or things I know that Jesus is working on in me and someday they will be gone too.
Others have abused the name, so society sees the Christian as some bigoted, judgmental, hateful person.
What really makes a person who calls themselves Christian different? It is more than
behavior, following a set of Thou Shalt Not’s, or belonging to a particular group. It is something far deeper—a transformation of the inner person; getting rid of things that extinguish the spiritual nature. God changes the inner person, and then we see outwardly what He has done, and what He is doing on the inside.
Because of Him we can be born into the family of God. In John 3:3: “ 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”In spiritual rebirth, God changes us from the inside— into the image of His Son Jesus the Christ. You can look good on the outside, be a morally good person, but spiritually bankrupt on the inside!
So-called Christians in the 21 st Century Church have watered down the Christian experience and believe what man does instead of what God does is enough. You are only a Christian because of what God has done and is doing in you. You are a Christian when you have a Divine Intimate Relationship with Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit becomes Lord and Master of your life.
You can say you don’t believe what God’s Word says, or you can choose to believe some parts and ignore others, or you can even say that a loving God would never deny heaven to anyone. But there is only one way that you and I get to be called by the name Christian. It is by being born again and asking for forgiveness of sin; accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for what He did on the cross and by following Him. It is by living DAILY for Him and putting Him first. You cannot call yourself by the name Christian if you do not know Jesus as your personal Savior. You cannot call yourself by the name Christian if you do not actively obey His commandments and love others. You cannot call yourself a Christian if you do not separate yourself from the world. You cannot call yourself a Christian if the Holy Spirit is not Lord and Master of your life and is not dwelling in you.
So, how do you pass the spiritual test? Are you a BELIEVER, an UN-BELIEVER, or a MAKE-BELIEVER? Does your life reflect the Holy Spirit of God living in you? This life is the only life you get. IT IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL! We need to get serious and not waste time with things that don’t matter.
Always in His Service, Pastor Ron Fellowship Church of the Nazarene