Dear friend,
I feel like a kid in a candy store. There are so many things I want to tell you, so many secrets I felt have been kept from me but now have been revealed. With the help of this new blog, I hope that by the Grace of Dad and Power of the Holy Spirit, someone out there reading this will join me in the revelation that is indescribably freeing and unbelievably loving. At times, I feel I don't know where to begin. What shall I write down, how can I possibly express with words the beauty and passion that comes from knowing our Lord and Christ, Jesus? If I were to start playing the "you know those people who..." game, I would fall deep into the judgement hole, no doubt proving this message to be in vain. So instead, please let me take a minute and describe how I once was, and perhaps ask yourself if you can relate.
For as far back as memory allows, I can remember being a Christian. I haven't known anything different. Sure, I was "happy," so long as my circumstances allowed (which usually meant the non-rejection of a note to the cute girl in class or hitting at least some of my shots in practice). I grew up in a fantastic, God-loving church, always went to Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, and didn't drink, chew, or went with girls who do. I prayed everyday, read my Bible from time to time (you know, Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights), and attended all the youth group conferences, missions trips, etc. But, something inside me didn't feel right. I'm not gonna lie, I was unhappy with life. I watched my friends have fun drinking, swearing, partying; but, despite my deceitfully "close" relationship with Dad, didn't feel any satisfaction out of Christianity.
There, I said it. There were times I found no satisfaction out of Christianity.
The more I read the Bible (in an attempt to "be" a better Christian and through that find more happiness) the more it contradicted itself. It didn't make sense in so many places. Thus, the more I became discontent with what I was taught to believe. I knew Jesus was real. I knew I was going to heaven when I died. I knew I should have lived a holy life...
But I didn't know why. If it were for happiness, then that was a bold-face lie. You see, I saw two dynamics playing around me in the people I surrounded myself with. There were the friends who did whatever the heck they wanted, and they looked pretty dang happy. Then there were the Christians who seemed to find happiness in their "rule following." At times I found myself disrespectfully questioning my Maker, "Why am I so discontent? Why am I not ecstatic with joy like You say I'll be? Why do I feel so fake?"
Then He answered.
There were things holding me back. There were still a great many things I needed to understand in order to experience His joy and His peace. I needed to understand His Grace. I needed to understand The Kingdom. I needed to understand how to live in Him.
I'd like to use this Blog to explain these true doctrines that have helped me come into an exponentially closer relationship with Dad.
Doctrines like:
- Once saved, always saved, Grace is F-R-E-E free (Heaven/Eternal Life does not include a life of surrender)
- The Kingdom is not now, but a 1,000 year reign on this Earth with Christ as King and our potential to reign with Him (which does require surrender)
- We are free from the 10 commandments, they don't apply to us
- Instead of praying for peace, love, joy, etc., Christ is our peace, love, joy, etc. because He physically lives in and through us
My hope is that if you've ever been jaded as a Christian, or are tired of going to church camp just to "get on fire for Jesus" and then fade the next week, that you'll let down the barrier of preconceived non-biblical beliefs and allow the Holy Spirit to be your revelation and understanding.
Non-truth will keep you from intimacy with Messiah. This is something you gotta experience yourself.
For me it has been life changing and Earth shattering.
No comments:
Post a Comment