Have you ever been invited to a party, such as Thirty-One or Pampered Chef? Perhaps you knew nothing about the products which would be sold until you received a catalog or brochure introducing you to the produces, and it–coupled with the fact that it was a friend who invited you–piqued your interest.
You go to the party and like what you see–so much so, that you sign up to host a party, and then another party, and another.
Next thing you know, you are the local coordinator, traveling to seminars to learn more about the products and to gain more skills which will make you a better representative of the company. Why? Because you loved the product.
However, at that same party, there were others who liked the products just as much as you did, but they went home with their purchases and never pursued the matter any further. In fact, when the next invitation came, they stayed home.
What is the difference between these party goers: believing and embracing. Both believed in the product. Both accepted the invitation and attended the same party, but one went away unchanged while the other had a life transformation.
Do you ever wonder why some seekers seem completely unchanged even after they have professed to trust Christ as their Savior? We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.However, we see “Christians” who still go places they shouldn’t go, say things they shouldn’t say, do things they shouldn’t do…in fact, the world looks on and says, “He’s a Christian?”
Jesus Christ is not a new purse or cooking utensil. When we meet Him in the Word of God, we are faced with a decision. We can believe that He is the Son of God and that He went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins; but if it stops at “believing,” we will come away unchanged, no matter how dramatic the encounter.
The transformation happens when we embrace what we believe. We love Him so much that we can’t imagine life without Him! And because of that love, and the joy of knowing that His precious promises are ours, we can’t spend enough time with Him. We can’t help to tell other about Him! We want to live a life that will please Him, no matter the cost.
You may say, “But Thirty-One became that woman’s career.” Career is defined as: a job for which you are trained and in which it is possible to advance during your working life, so that you get greater responsibility and earn more money. As a born-again believer, Jesus Christ is our career; however, the definition changes somewhat. Career: a life for which you are trained and in which it is possible to advance during your Spiritual life, so that you get greater responsibility and earn more treasures in heaven: aka, crowns for your Lord and Savior!
Perhaps I’ve simplified or commercialized this thought too much. Or even worse, perhaps I’ve left out the main ingredient! We do not “choose” salvation or embracing like we would a purse or a career. We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 Is it possible that too many “conversions” are man-led and not Spirit-led? And what do we do with Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen? That has to be put into the mix. My purpose is NOT to end the year with more questions, but to stir you to consider your own salvation. As the children’s song says:
Oh, you can’t get to heaven without S-A-L-V-A-T-I-O-N!
Sing it out, loud and clear: S-A-L-V-A-T-I-O-N!
Shout it out, far and near: S-A-L-V-A-T-I-O-N!
End your year by not only believing. Embrace Jesus Christ, and begin a new year with a changed life that will change your world, for this life and the next!
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:19
Beyond Common Sense 