It’s surprising how the biggest testimony and biggest influential thing that we have is our life story. Time and time again I’ve heard and experience first hand how people relating their own stories can connect and bring people to Christ. Some of the most powerful stories I’ve heard comes from how people have manage to come through crisis through God’s hand in their lives. Truly, it’s not the strong that shall be saved but the weak.
Throughout my life, the constant message that people, self-help books, media and community has been conveying is one of being self-sufficient. Another way of seeing it is being strong enough to stand on my own 2 feet. I’ve come to learn that that’s the devil’s teaching.
Christianity teaches exactly the opposite. God says NOT to stand on my own to feet but to lean on to Him and depend solely on Him for everything; salvation, daily needs, health, strength to face the world, etc. the Bible is full of stories of ordinary men who achieve success, victory or greatness not through their own strength but through God. In fact, these people only achieved success, victory or greatness when they trust completely in God. Moses did 10 wonders in Egypt but it was God who gave him the wonders. The Israelites only manage to conquer Jericho when God was in charge of the army. Gideon won an amazing victory (300 men vs an army of thousands!) when he obeyed everything that God told him to do. In fact, this line continues even into the New Testament. When Jesus sent out his 12 disciples, they brought nothing with them except the clothing on their back. They didn’t even bring food or water! As far as I recall, I don’t remember reading anywhere in the Bible that Jesus carried food and water wherever he went either.
From all that I’ve learnt, I realize now that it’s not those who have everything that will be saved; it’s those who realize they need salvation that will be saved. The people who realize they have sinned and deserve death; they will be the ones who will becomes the most powerful Christians.
I think the hardest part about Christianity is the fact that it’s not about the facts or commandments, it’s about how well our relationship with God is. Within the Bible and even today, some of the most powerful men of God I’ve read or seen draw their strength direct from Heaven. They have a personal relationship with God. That is why it is possible for us to memorize every scripture in the Bible and follow all the commandments but still not know the God who loves us and saved us. For if simply accepting that there is a God and following all the commands laid out, that will not differentiate Christians from any other religion. Other religions also teach good moral values. Heck, atheist also have good moral values. Knowing that there is a God out there is also not enough. Anything or anyone can be a God. We can always believe in a pink unicorn God as well. What’s the difference?
The difference is not in the fact that Jesus is real. Since Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago, it’s not easy to say how real he is in that sense. After all, we only know dinosaurs exist because their remains are found in the earth. So if telling people that Jesus is real and alive in us isn’t enough, what is?
Not only must we know God of the bible, we must also know the living God. The most influence we can ever have on other people is through our lives. Do our lives reflect God living in us? Think carefully because there are ways where we think our lives reflect God’s will when it doesn’t. Becoming a millionaire does not mean God lives in us. Living a blameless life won’t display God’s love for mankind. Achieving great success also might not be honouring God. All these may be the product of God living within us but doing all this will not show God lives in us.
Others can only see how God truly lives in us when we sincerely give up our lives and let God take over. For when God takes over, 4 things will happen:
- We will do things that the world thinks is crazy and/or foolish.
- We will make enemies.
- We will experiences highs and lows through life.
- Our lives will become very exciting and fulfilling!
In a nutshell, we will become very different! We might not change completely or drastically but people will start to notice. They will realize that we are not the same as them, that we are different, unique. There will be something about our lives that makes others take notice and want. That ‘X’ factor.
I’ve seen people who live completely for Christ. Their lives are exciting and fulfilling. I’ve set a personal target to get what they have because I can see that their lives contain so much joy, so much laughter that truly, the world can’t take it away. They have a powerful ministry that will change the world. I can see God working in their lives and how much He can bless people who live completely for Him. Christianity is not living in the shadows. It’s not achieving the minimum to live by. It’s about living an awesome life that is the envy of everyone around us. It’s being able to say no to the bad things around us not because it’s bad, but because we have something much better than that. It’s about going to war against the devil and winning!
I will always remember what Pastor Russ Evans said at Audacious 2005. He said that he didn’t need ecstasy or disco to get high, he can get higher than that just by reading the word of God. That’s when I realize that for the biggest adrenaline rush, the greatest joy felt, the best motivation stories and the true path to happiness can all be found in His word. Living a life where God is in charge is the biggest adventure you can ever hope for. The challenge is whether you are willing to let go of everything else; your dreams, your personal ambitions, your needs, your wants, your career, your family even your life in order to obtain it.
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