I approached a man smoking a cigarette today with a gospel tract. Baron was raised Catholic and later began attending an Episcopal church as he grew older. He told me that he had not attended in a considerable amount of time. We talked for several minutes as I took the time to get to know him. I was not in any big hurry, and Baron did not seem to be either. I eventually shared the gospel with Baron and this is when he began to flood me with questions.
I was at a funeral last week and the man speaking said that he gave his life to Jesus four years ago. How do you do that?
I answered with my personal testimony: On my knees ten years ago, I asked for forgiveness of my sins and placed my trust in Jesus. I was overwhelmed with conviction of my sin and knew that my life was an offense to God.
Are you supposed to feel anything?
You might feel a bit lighter after the burden of your sins is placed on Christ, but Christians do not live by their feelings. The Bible says that when you place your trust in Christ, you become a new creation. You will begin to despise sin and, by God's Spirit, you will have the power to say no to sin. That is how I examine my own life. If I am trusting in Jesus, I should be growing to be more like Him. Do I hate sin even more than I did last year? Have my desires changed? That is not about feelings, but about faith in action.
Is the Christian life hard?
Yes, the entire world is moving in one direction and then suddenly you repent. When you repent, you are turning against the world and its own desires. You will be going against the grain. However, don't get me wrong. There is a tremendous amount of joy in following Christ. This world makes more sense as a believer. Why does evil exist? Why do bad things happen to good people? These are all questions that are answered in the Bible. Jesus said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his only soul." In the end, it is all about who you are trusting in for eternal life. Everything in this world will soon pass away, but what it done for Christ will last.
I want to follow Jesus.
Think about your sins and let them break your heart. Then pray to God, asking him to forgive you. Pray something very similar to Psalm 51 if you need help. Turn from you sin and trust in Jesus. Afterward, read your Bible every day. Get to know your Savior. Here is the address to my church. It is essential that you fellowship with other believers.
I've been seeking and I know that we have met for a reason. I will pray as soon as I get back up to my office. What time does your service start?
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