The Price Believers Pay

In this day and age, so many so-called "Christians" live their daily lives and go to church on sunday. The problem here is if you were to examine their daily lives throughout the week on the premise of "if you are a Christian, I should be able to see Jesus Christ in all that you do every single day," there would be some major discrepancies. This idea has been weighing on my mind most of the past few months and I have turned to the Bible to find the answer to this question. First and foremost, Jesus plainly tells us in Matthew 16:24 that:

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."

For too many people, Christianity is a feeling and a process of going to church on sundays. Christianity is infinitely more. To follow the One who came to die for our sins, we must give up everything in us that works contrary to THAT reason for which Jesus' earthly existance was required. If we are not meant to actively get rid of those habits, whether its drinking or just acting wrongly with women; then why is the Bible filled with verses like:

For, dear brothers, you have been given freedom: not freedom to do wrong, but freedom to love and serve each other. For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always critical and catty, watch out! Beware of ruining each other. Galatians 5: 13-15

Anyone who says he is walking in the light of Christ but dislikes his fellow man is still in darkness. But whoever loves his fellow man is “walking in the light” and can see his way without stumbling around in darkness and sin. For he who dislikes his brother is wandering in spiritual darkness and doesn’t know where he is going, for the darkness has made him blind so that he cannot see the way.
1 John 2: 9-11

Yes, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14: 12

And I tell you this, that you must give account on Judgment Day for every idle word you speak. Matthew 12: 36

Your words now reflect your fate then: either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned. Matthew 12: 37

God tolerated man’s past ignorance about these things, but now he commands everyone to put away idols and worship only him. For he has set a day for justly judging the world by the man he has appointed, and has pointed him out by bringing him back to life again. Acts 17: 30-31

Remember, too, that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.
James 4: 17

We MUST give up everything in us that works contrary to Gods' redeeming presence in us. There is no room for error, no time to wait, and the clock in our lives clicks on. More Christians need to have the attiude of "taking up their crosses" because if you put your faith in that context, the big truth immediately becomes clear. Being a Christian in these times is going to make many people hate you and that is a good thing!! It has taken me a long time to figure this out. I went through the Christian motions but, in the back of my mind, I always wanted people to like me, especially those who weren't Christians. None of us know the hour of our deaths so we cannot afford to say "oh, I'm gonna go out drinking tonight because I want to, but it will be the only time this semester" or "Im gonna date this girl, even tho I know shes not a Christian because shes cute and maybe through dating me, she will become a Christian." We do not have that time, I personally want to know that I have, to the best of my ability, been TRULY a man carrying the Cross of Christ when it comes my time to face the final test of death!!

We need to focus on the fact that we will stand in Judgment one day and we will be tried for our actions on this earth. I was watching a movie the other day called Kingdom of Heaven, its an awesome movie about the defense of Jerusalem by Crusaders against the Saracens attacking it. Its a classic war movie but I was struck by a line in the movie where one of the main characters, when speaking about virtue says:

But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say "but I was told by others to do thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time." This will not suffice. Remember that!

Our soul IS in our keeping and it is up to us to face the onslaught from the World with a happy heart knowing we are taking up our crosses!!! Remember, earth is temporary, but HEAVEN is FOREVER!!! Keep your eyes ever on Him who we owe everything!!!