…but is Jesus Christ your Lord?
I grew up in the church. I accepted Jesus Christ into my life at 10 years old. If you asked me then, I would say that I was a Christian. I still am. Growing up, I listened to many sermons about what it meant to be a Christian. While I believe my relationship with the Lord has progressively grown deeper and richer as I’ve gotten older, I just recently came to an understanding about what has caused the significant shift in my spiritual relationship.
Remember how I said that I’ve always been a Christian? Well, I’ve also always been a sinner. I still am. However, in my formative years, I used that fact as an excuse for sustaining a sinful lifestyle (which I would consider more egregious than merely committing a sin). I wholeheartedly believe that we are all predisposed to be sinners. That’s why we have to decide for ourselves that Jesus Christ is Lord and that he is our only way to salvation. But what does that actually mean; Jesus Christ is Lord? It means that we will try with all of our being to live a righteous life that is reflective of the Kingdom we are charged with representing as ambassadors for Christ.
How does one live a righteous life? I already said we’re literally natural born sinners. )Thanks, Adam & Eve.) Well when we accept Christ into our lives (when we are saved), we make a commitment to allow the Lord to guide our every thought and action. Sure, that’s a great undertaking for people who are predisposed to get it wrong more times than we get it right. Once we acknowledge (1) that we are afraid to stop sinning because people might judge us, (2) that we are afraid that we could never live righteously even with His grace, and (3) that we want to see it to believe it (meaning that we honestly don't trust God yet), the shift can begin.
Shortly after graduating college, I made the decision to let go of my biggest, and what I considered my most embarrassing, sin. When I decided to begin my celibacy journey, I also left behind a lifestyle that wasn't the least bit pleasing to God. I think it’s more embarrassing to admit that I struggled with a sin that wasn’t even enjoyable than to actually testify about the sin itself. But that is precisely my point. So often we settle for what we see in front of us or what the world convinces us is the standard for a life worth living. Whereas, the Bible teaches us that our treasures aren’t even here on earth.
So basically, God made all this commotion about sending his only son to die so that we may have everlasting life and we basically respond, through our actions/sin, that we still don’t trust that a life committed to the Lord and His purpose is better than what we can provide for ourselves in the world.
Let’s go back to my original question. Is Jesus Christ your Lord? Is the standard by which you judge your thoughts and actions consistent with the standard of God? Is God the first one you turn to when you’re faced with life’s most challenging decisions? Are your relationships centered on and reflective of the relationship you share with God? Do you love God more than you love being comfortable? Do you love God more than you love being accepted by your peers? Do you love God more than you love your spouse? Do you love God more than you love the comfort and security of your job, your house, or your family? Would you do anything for Him no matter what you think the “price” will be? Will you take up your cross and follow him without notice? Is He your Lord?
If you would have asked me these questions five years ago when I began my current journey, my answers to all of them would have honestly been no. See, the decision I made back then wasn’t totally in reverence to God as Lord of my life. Well, it kind of was, but not really. (Can someone say lukewarm?) The decision was made because it was time for me to grow up and truly figure out who I was (eventually I would come to figure out who I was in Christ). While my decision to leave behind my “biggest” sins was loosely influenced by my walk with Christ, my current relationship with Christ would not have begun manifesting itself until I removed the barriers that I created. Those barriers prevented me from recognizing Christ for who He is and who I am in Him. Don’t get me wrong. If you ask me those same questions from the previous paragraph now, some answers would be yes, a lot more would be maybe, all of them could be honestly answered, “I think so.”
I will never be perfect. I am a sinner. But I refuse to ever let sin distract me from my relationship with God. Call me crazy, but I’m just committed enough (mustard seed faith) to believe that the best is always yet to come. I can honestly say that my life is amazing right now. The promises that God has put on my heart is what motivates me to be grateful, yet not content with where I am right now. Every time I give thanks for my journey and deliverance, I can’t help but smile knowing that He has so much more in store for me. There’s still so much more room for growth in Him. He only asks that I allow him to be Lord over every aspect of my life. I accepted that invitation, and my life has never been the same.
