Philippians 4:8-9
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
It took me a long time to realize that being a Christian meant more than just saying you believe in Jesus. As I've often heard said, Satan believes but that doesn't make him a Christian.
For many years I was what I now refer to as a John 3:16 Christian. Perhaps the most oft quoted verse of the New Testament, it was probably the only verse I could quote verbatim for some two decades after I walked down the aisle and professed my faith in Christ. Looking back, it seems I regarded this verse as a free pass to behave any way I liked because I was not going to "perish, but have eternal life." I drank, smoked, and committed many other sins thinking none of it really mattered because my price had been paid--I had already fulfilled the conditions laid out to receive salvation so I could party on!
It wasn't until I was midway through my 30's when it dawned on me I'd had it all wrong. I had been charging through life, believing nothing more was required of me. I'd walked down the aisle, been baptized, and believed Jesus walked on Earth, was crucified, and was resurrected. So I was good.
But then one day, after years of achieving worldly success in almost everything I'd ever attempted, it hit me. I had never been TRULY saved. I'd only gone through the motions to make the world believe I was saved.
You see, though the world looked at me and considered my life a success, I wasn't happy. It was as if I just couldn't be satisfied. It didn't matter how much money I made, or had saved. I always needed just a little more. Though I had a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters, I practically never saw them. Never spent time with them. Work was my life and it consumed me. The quest for another dollar kept me a virtual stranger to those who mattered most.
Then one day, it became clear as glass. Driving to work it dawned on me that I'd never truly been saved, because I'd never truly been transformed. I realized that if I had truly believed the teachings of the Bible, that Jesus was my savior and he had died for my sins, it would have necessarily changed me to be a different person. If I'd been truly transformed, I'd never have continued repeating the same blatant sins over and over and over and over again.
That's not to say I would never have sinned again, because none of us can ever be perfect. We're all born sinners and are doomed to a life of sin, try as we might to be good. But the important revelation that came to me that day on the road is that, once truly saved, a person would always WANT to do the right thing. At least to some degree, any person honestly changed by accepting Christ as their savior would try to do the right thing.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
But even though we're not perfect, and our works can't get us into heaven, the Holy Spirit residing within us will force us to TRY to live right. We certainly won't purposely sin simply because we believe our debt is paid. Real faith in Christ will compel us to lead a life that "puts into practice" the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
James 2:17-18
17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
Now, though I am nowhere close to perfect, I realize that every day I MUST try to do what's right. If my conscience nags at me, I must resist doing what I know is wrong. I must, at all times, try to live my life according to the example set by Christ. Though I know at the outset that I will at times fail, this I now realize is how I can be an example to others, and hopefully encourage those who are lost to long for the same "God of peace" that provides for all my needs and allows me to finally be truly happy and satisfied with my place in the world.
Lord Jesus, please give us the strength and wisdom to recognize that being saved is more than simply mouthing a few words, standing before a crowd, and allowing someone to dunk us under the water. Help us to strive to be a true Christian model to those who are lost. May the peace we find in you encourage others who seek to fill the void that can only be filled by your grace. Please help us take your teachings to heart and put them into practice so that the world might seek You and that You will be glorified. Amen.
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