Back in the days when I was a prodical Christian, there was a possibility that I was not saved. I posted about my thoughts on this earlier (October 31st). As I see Christians around me and they reminded me of "me" when I was away from God. Who are the Christians? They are who believe that we can choose to accept Christ for Savior and expecting that He will bless us whatever we ask. To many in their opinion, obedience is not required. Before and during my prodigal days, I may know the word "obedience" biblically but I never really knew the word from my heart. Just like King David. David messed up big time but God told us through the Bible that David was truly after God's heart. Obedience is simply giving up my will from my heart and allowing God's will from His heart to direct my life.
All around I see Christians who expected God to give them whatever they ask for (healing, wealth and etc). Some even demanded God to give them what they wanted in their own will rather than God's will. Don't get me wrong, God does give blessings and He will after He determines our hearts (our motives). I find them troubling. Why do I find them troubling? Its really simple, once I gave my will to God, I taught me what it means to be blessed by Him.
Today, it is not uncommon to see many Christians who accepted Christ without obedience until they feel they are ready. The whole biblical concept of Lordship and obedience is completely ignored. Christians hesitate and delay true obedience to God because they know God is asking them to quit their own selfishness and interests. This is called "Cost of Discipleship" (see Luke 14:25-35).
"The entire Bible teaches that true obedience to God and His Christ is one of the toughest requirements in the Christian life. Actually, salvation without obedience is a self-contradicting impossibility!" A.W. Tozer
Paul wrote in the Book of Romans that "by one man's disobedience" came the downfall of the human race. By birth through Adam, we are unholy; and before we knew Christ, we practiced unrighteousness. Also, by birth through Adam, our bodies are decaying by sin while disease, old age and death testify that our physical time on earth will end someday. Christians are having a problem with procrastination. Christ said Christian will lose out of their true salvation (Luke 14:24); Paul warned in 2nd Corinthians 6:2 that we are to have salvation today; and someday, God will not wait any longer (Rev. 10:6). Those who are without Christ in obedience are really missing true blessings from God.
Until Christians received Jesus Christ and obey Him sincerely, there can be no true knowledge of spiritual salvation, nor any spiritual understanding of God. Peter wrote in 1st Peter that we are elected according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience. Are we one of the elected who truly accepted Christ?
I am glad I came back to Christ. I have been reading my Bible and I am seeing what God really want from me. The Holy Spirit is really teaching me and making me think. God is not demanding much at all. All He wants from me is to love Him. He simply wants me to allow Him to be in my life by transferring my will to His will. That is true discipleship. To forget my own will because God's will is BETTER. I realized that when I allow Him, my life is more peaceful and more enjoyable. I noticed that. Even though God will not take away my problems but He always been there for me when I am facing problems. I am still having problems but very very peaceful.
Luke 14:27
James 4:7-10
The Powder Point Bridge at the shore of Duxbury, MA once was listed in the Guinness Book Of World Records as the oldest and longest wooden bridge in the world. The half-mile-long bridge that leads to Duxbury Beach and eventually, Marshfield, was rebuilt in the 1980s, losing its place in the records book.
Duxbury is a coastal community of approximately 24 square miles, located 35 miles southeast of Boston in Plymouth County. One of Massachusetts’ earliest communities, Duxbury was incorporated in 1637. Its first European inhabitants were Pilgrims who moved here from Plymouth Colony to establish family homesteads. John Alden, Elder Brewster, and Myles Standish were among Duxbury’s early settlers, establishing family farms near the shore. Duxbury is among the many South Shore towns which value their historic buildings, coastal character, and scenic roadside views. Duxbury’s rich historic heritage stretches back almost four centuries to the time of the Plymouth Colony. Sites include: the John Alden House; the Myles Standish cellar hole overlooking Plymouth Harbor on Standish Shore; the gravesites of John Alden, Priscilla Mullin, Elder Brewster, Myles Standish and few others; and the Elder Brewster lilacs located at the site of former Elder Brewster Homestead, said to have arrived on the Mayflower, and still thriving on Standish Shore. The Alden Kindred of America is in the process of applying for National Historic Landmark status for the John Alden House Museum as well as the first site and foundation of the original 1627 John Alden House.
