Why follow Jesus?

     I never really went through a rebellious stage in my teens.  I had a strong family who focused on what was right and my parents were fair about what they allowed me to do.  If something came up that they disapproved of, I deferred to their authority as my parents.  It released me of any responsibility for what might happen if I made bad choices against their judgement.   The reason that was a good idea was that my parents judgement was very closely related to what the Bible teaches.  They themselves deferred to the authority of God and the things they had been taught about what was right and wrong in His eyes.  So in a way, we were all under God's authority. As an adult, those decisions fell to my own judgement and for the most part, I determined to use similar judgement to what I had been taught.  It has served me well, but I know there are those who have not had this type of upbringing.  

     As a Christian I have made a decision defer to the authority of Jesus.   This brings the question of why a person living today should follow the commands of Jesus, who walked on earth two thousand years ago.  The reason is based on a few things that I know about who Jesus is.  By knowing who He is, I know by what authority He commands me and other followers.  Here is what I know.

     Jesus is the son of God.  He is part of God along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.  The Trinity-three in one.  This means that He is God.   The things he taught as "God in the Flesh" are the words of God.  Therefore, I follow them.  It would be foolish not to.  The God of the universe, the creator of everything, who always has been and always will be, the all-knowing, all-powerful, author of existence itself.  How can I begin to think that I know a better way to live than His way.   His name is "I AM."  His very existence explains everything else.  It has taken me over 40 years to even begin to understand the smallest part of God's existence and even in that minuscule amount, I am dumbfounded and overwhelmed at His greatness.  He has authority over all, because He is the author of all.

     We are often wrapped up in the drama and details of our surrounding, that we neglect to step back and realize that in chasing our own goals, we are chasing our own tails.  True fulfillment will come in fulfilling our part of the master design that the author of true reality has set in place.  And so, by His authority, I will strive to find out who I am by continuing to try to know Him.

     

It's Time

     Over the past few years and more recently this past week, I have been around families as they have made arrangements for the end of someone's life. There are things that are done far in advance relating to financial areas and deciding who will care for remaining children. There are wills, living wills, trusts, and legal transfers as well as dispersal of family heirlooms. So many things can be planned for and prepared for so that when that unknown time comes, we are ready to move toward the life to come.
      Each time I am faced with this occurrence, I am always anxious to hear about the spiritual preparations that were made for the next life. It is the only question that really matters. Rust and decay will eventually consume everything else except our soul. How do we plan for the time our body no longer can remain joined with us? It is the ageless question? What happens next, Where will I go?
      I believe that God exists. I trust that God exists. Because I trust that God exists, I act upon things in this world according to how I believe God wants me to act. My best way to know what that action is is that I read God's word, The Bible, and follow the guidance of God The Holy Spirit in my life. I spend every day drawing closer and closer to understanding and following God by the teachings of Jesus as well. Here is what I believe must be done to be prepared.

Romans 10:9--If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved

What does it mean to "believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead?" It means that you make decisions based on your understanding of what Jesus desires for you to do. You put yourself below Jesus. You are willing to give up your own plan to fulfill the plan God has for your life. Even if you are not successful in doing all of the right things, you have made a commitment to do it at the expense of your own goals. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified.

What does it mean to declare with your mouth "Jesus is Lord?" --- It means that you are willing to identify yourself as someone who has made Jesus the ruler of your life. You are willing to give up your own identity and become a "follower of Jesus." When someone asks why you are acting this way, you explain to them that it is not your own plan that you are following, but the plan of Jesus. It is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

As you commit to living this life, you begin to see God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit use you to reflect God's word in the world. Your faith grows as you experience God on a deeper and deeper and more visible level in your life.The Bible explains how to be saved in many places and using many similar explanations. The plan is simple, but takes a definite decision. When you are ready to decide to put this plan into effect in your life, pray and tell him that you want to declare "Jesus is Lord." Then trust Him as you live your life seeking to understand and enact His plan for your life. At that point, it is not you that lives, but Jesus living through you.

When the day comes and you are separated from your body, you will be immediately in the presence of the Lord because you are already a part of Him.

Be ready. Live Life.