“I am the way the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
The above Scripture gives us the answer on how to obtain everlasting life, but how many who have accepted this salvation and call themselves Christians, really believe Jesus words?
How many churches today preach this way is the only way to heaven? That Jesus is the Christ prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New? Sad to say many do not and still call themselves Christians. False prophets and cults abound in today’s world and only by accepting the Bible as truth, can you spot them.
Those who have accepted Jesus as Savior, often stop right there and rest on their laurels so to speak. They are assured of their place in heaven, but settle into their comfortable armchair and don’t tell anyone else of the great hope they themselves have received. Their nets are full of holes and the fish are swimming right on through.
I can relate very well to this kind of person because I was one of them! For years I went about in a lukewarm ‘thank you so much Jesus’ kind of way. I lacked the passion to follow Him with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. After all my family and friends might think I was a religious nutcase. My net too was full of escape holes!
That is – until 2002 when I attended a week-end conference at Pinegrove Baptist Church. Earl Cooper, Pastor at the time, opened this door with Henry Blackaby’s ‘Experiencing God’. During that conference, Jesus told me exactly what He thought of me when He brought Revelation 3:16 into my mind. It felt like a knife piercing my heart…“So, because you are lukewarm, – neither cold nor hot – I am about to vomit you out of my mouth.” Unfortunately he didn’t stop there although I wished He had – “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
Here I thought I was such a perfect little Saint going to church and Bible study and involved in so many other activities. Unfortunately, I knew what Jesus had just said to me was true, but I really didn’t want to leave that comfortable armchair on which I had so perfectly placed the pillows.
I had to face the fact that I was a busy little church goer coasting along, paying the occasional homage and recognition to Jesus. But did I really understand the price He had paid for me? Did I really understand that He longed for a personal relationship, a deepening love and understanding of who He really was? Did I really trust Him with my life to the point of relinquishing it all to Him? Well, He gave me the answer in Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
At the end of the conference we all brought in a rock on which we had printed the Scripture verse Jesus had given each of us. We piled them all up in a heap in a special place allotted for them, and one by one we went up to the front of the sanctuary and recited our verse. I made a vow then and there before all, that I would never again be lukewarm in my love for Jesus. I have kept that vow and since that time, have felt a passion for telling others about Him that I never had before. I now trust Him totally with my life and will never be lukewarm again and whenever I hear the word ‘lukewarm’ – the word ‘vomit’ comes to my mind and we all know how unpleasant that can be.
Jesus fulfilled all the prophets said of Him and overcame death when He rose from the grave. Because of this fact, I am assured when I leave this world, I too will rise and be forever with Jesus.
This Easter make a vow to get out of your comfortable Christian armchair, and meet with Jesus. Your apathy will change to passion and as you look upon that broken tortured body of Christ on that cross, say to Him . . . “You gave your all for me; I give my all to You.”
Love’s redeeming work is done,
fought the fight, the battle won.
Death in vain forbids him rise;
Christ has opened paradise.
Charles Wesley
God’s free gift to us cost Him dearly. ODB