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My wake-up call: Heat up or else...
I grew up in a very religious household. That is, if you
consider going to church twice every Sunday, starting each
normal day with prayer and a reading, saying grace before every
meal, avoiding bad things and situations, etc. as being very
religious. Growing up, we were always taught to "turn the other
cheek", "follow the path of the least resistance", "do unto
others..." - I think you catch my drift. At church we always
sang the same old hymns, averting our eyes, not smiling or
looking around, basically just being good Christians - or so we
thought.
While these principles were all very good, I think they missed
the point completely. The idea was maybe to make good examples
out of us, which was not in itself a bad idea, and part of our
task as Christians. But recently I started seriously pondering
whether these things don't maybe put us into the "lukewarm"
category? Safe in our comfort zones, maybe?
It is often amazing how overjoyed I can become over my sports
team when they do well on the field, but when the moment comes
to praise God for giving his Son to die for my sins (a much
bigger reason for joy) I prefer to keep it to myself. Or how
passionately I talk about my current favorite topic, but when it
comes to spreading God's word (which is why we're here on earth,
How To Pass ExamsIn modern society passing educational examinations becomes an increasingly important and essential means to a better job and improved living ..... people!), I am at a loss for words. It is so easy to rather
avoid the topic altogether for the sake of not offending friends
or colleagues or avoiding humiliation. But let's remember the
ultimate humility and suffering Jesus faced when being ridiculed
while hanging on the cross. And what for? So that you and I may
be free from sin. Not for his own gain, but for ours. Is it then
too much to ask to speak out when necessary and stop denying
Him? One moment of humiliation in exchange for the possibility
that one soul might have Eternal Life?
I realize now that "following the path of the least resistance"
is only the right thing to do if you're not denying God while
doing it. And "turning the other cheek" has to be done with love
and a prayer in your heart. And "do unto others..." we shouldn't
do because we're expecting them to do to us, but because we have
the Love of God in our hearts.
But maybe the most important thing that I've learnt recently is
how little I actually know. The more I learn, the more I realize
how little I actually know about God's Grace, Power and Love.
Life's a journey. And what a ride with Him at the wheel!
About the author:
Chris van der Walt is a freelance writer of self-help articles
for all kinds of subjects. He has a passion for Jesus Christ,
beach volleyball (savolley.com), computers and
the internet. He is also owner of AJC Consulting - Affordable Website
Design.
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