I, [insert name here], Am Not an Only Child

 

                At the moment of receiving Christ as my personal LORD and Savior, the transformation began in my mind, body, and spirit. My thought patterns started to change. I no longer looked at things in the worldly point of view but now in the spiritual point of view. I no longer allowed my body to be subjected to the abuses of this world. I began to treat my body differently. The Holy Spirit indwelled in me and my soul is convicted when I am doing something contrary to what God wants. The good news is this transformation is ongoing, and will continue to be ongoing until my time is up here on earth. The bad news is that from time to time I treat this transformation as a one-stop shop of salvation and deliverance, or that I reached the plateau of where God wants me to be and it’s cruise control from here on out. Yes God has rescued me from the bondage of this world and yes He has offered me the gift of eternal life in Heaven through His Son Jesus Christ; but it is not about me and I am not an only child.

                Whenever I watch the news or read the newspaper (okay not the actual paper but the news articles on my phone), and see the destruction and chaos that is going on in the world around me I can’t help but to think about where God has brought me from; and that I used to be in that world. I thank the LORD for opening my eyes to see what He has been trying to show me all my life. I thank Him for the individuals He has placed in my life who were influential in me choosing Jesus over this world. I now need to be used by Jesus to be influential in someone else’s life as well. In war, the saying goes ‘never leave a fallen man behind’. Well this is a war, a spiritual war, and I cannot leave a fallen man behind. Hebrews 2:1-4 tells me “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” I cannot neglect such a great salvation for myself or for others. And I cannot treat my salvation as if I am an only child.

                I must look to tell someone about Jesus every chance I get. Why? Because Philippians 2:4 tells me “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” The time is now for me to plant as many seeds as possible to lead those who are lost to Christ. I know I have to take care of myself. I know I have to deal with the issues and trials that come into my life. I can’t ignore them. But I definitely can’t ignore God’s will for my life. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Because I know Christ I am now responsible for my part in spreading the Gospel. It doesn’t matter if I study and understand the word or not. When I am at my job and I do something that is against the employee handbook, just because I didn’t read it doesn’t mean I am exempt from the consequences. It’s the same with knowing Christ. Jesus told me in Matthew 28:19-20 to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” I cannot ignore this command God has given me. I am not an only child.

                I cannot prejudge someone to determine whether or not to speak to them about Christ. Matthew 7:1-2 tells me to “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Even if I discern that a certain person will not believe or accept what I tell them about Christ, that shouldn’t affect my decision to minister to them. Everyone needs Jesus Christ! Everyone. No matter what walks of life they may come from or are currently in, everyone needs Jesus. The great news is that in the end we win. Those who are in Christ will be victorious because God said so. Satan and his demons will be defeated. So I am not fighting for victory (because it’s already won!), but rather I am fighting from victory (making sure we stay on the winning side!). That is very encouraging to know. And that is more reason to tell everybody I can about Christ. I am responsible for what God has entrusted me and empowered me to do. We are ‘One God, One Faith, One Family in Christ Jesus’. I [insert name here], am not an only child.