You may think you're on the right path as far as your relationship with Christ. You may not be sure if you're doing what you should be as a Christian. Whatever your case, is God pleased with the way you carry yourself, talk, respond, and act as you say that you are a CHRISTian? Are you sure of your right standing with Him today? When you give your life to Christ you are dying to self and gaining true life in Christ. That day, that moment when you repented. That was the beginning of you turning your back on your sinful ways, not repeating them and letting God transform you into the person that HE wants you to be for HIM. That day, that moment when you got baptized as Paul said in Romans 6:3,4, " 3) Or have you forgotten that we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4) For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we may also live new lives." You were united in his death, foreshadowing the cross, those three nails, and his blood that cleansed us. You are a Christian when Christ is in you. So, have you been ignoring him? Have you just completely dropped your faith? Have you gone back to your sin? Have you stayed in your sin? Having you been surrounding yourself with Christians to hold you accountable? Have you been reading His Word often to learn, grow spiritually, and apply it? Are you the only Christian in your household? Do you just not have the drive to read the Bible? If you've answered yes to any of these questions it's not too late to get back on the narrow path, or get on. It's not too late to pray about the situation you're in for guidance. It's not too late to pray for the drive to read His Word. What ever your situation it's not too late, just know that you can't do it without God's help and strength. Here's a scenario of the Americanized Christian in the general population and entertainment industry. The typical Americanized Christian claims to believe in God, goes to Church every Sunday they can, and shun's some of the things God does. Oh, I've prayed one time before I'm okay with God right? But, still continues to dwell in their sin. Just because God knows they sin and are forgiven, but are reading too far into the lines; to fit what they want to be as a Christian. They still participate in the activities they did before they met Christ, still use profanity, still gets drinks to get drunk, still parties, still watches porn, still listens to the vulgar/prideful/sexual music, still lusts, still watch what you shouldn't, still gossips, still quarrels, still whatever(you get the point). It's a heart thing, if God is going to change your heart you have to let him. If you harden your heart and don't welcome Him to do his work in you through the Holy Spirit then it was no point in you getting saved. If you let your fleshes desires affect your heart then you're going to continue in that sin. You have to give God your all so you can get all of Him. If you keep bits and pieces of your sins and do some of what God wants you're a Americanized Christian. In order to please Him you have to obey Him. It shouldn't feel like a burden, because Jesus thought of you on that cross, He thought of you as He was lashed, He thought of you as He was mocked, He thought of You. We could've easily not have had an option to go to Heaven or hell and just went to hell. He showed and still shows love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. How hard is it to just obey Him and live as Christ lived? It is hard, but it's totally worth it. Yes we mess up, but you shouldn't continue to do the same sins over and over again. You can't get into Heaven by Good Works alone, don't feed into that lie. You have to die to yourself and let Christ live in you to remove your burdens, give you peace, cleanse your heart, help you to not fear death, work in you and help you OVERALL!! Being a Christian through trials and hardships, those are the moments when you should come to God first. Even on your best days, it's often the only times people come to God when they need something or are going through something. It's an everyday thing until He comes back for His people. Not a just when I want to thing. Instead of going to everyone else and then God last, what do you think that looks like to God? It's like you ignored Him and spit in His face when he was there all along. Run to Him in prayer, His Word and you will be guided. Remember God is always there, you just don't acknowledge His presence. Examine yourself, is there anything you can improve? Are you not 100% sure you are saved? Are you unsure of where you would go if you were to die? If Jesus were to come back tomorrow would you think that you've done all you could as far as living out his name, representing Him and sharing Him? Would He be pleased? Are you bearing fruits to show that you are a Christian?
I hope this has brung those who are the Americanized Christian to the reality of it all. Praying for You!
Grace,Love&Blessings!!
