16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
1 Peter 4:16-19 (NKJV)
The Cost
I know some people will brand me a bigot or a “fundamentalist Christian” because I openly share about Jesus, the Bible and my Christian faith.
I know some people will avoid engaging with me or doing business with me because of my faith (though these very individuals claim to be champions of tolerance, diversity and inclusion).
I know it may cost me personally and/or professionally (not saying it already hasn’t) because of my Christian faith.
Because my worldviews are shaped by my faith in Jesus Christ and God’s Word (the Bible), I cannot and will not agree with everything that our society has embraced openly and celebrates as progress. However, even though I disagree, I do not do so in a militant fashion with unfettered hatred and anger, which is the behaviour that is quite common in those who oppose Christ/Christians.
Of course it hurts when I know that I’m being persecuted but I take that pain to the LORD and His Spirit comforts me.
There is a far greater cost, the ultimate cost, to be considered: Christians who deny Jesus, will themselves be denied by the LORD!
Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32-33
The Reason
So, if I know all of the above, why do I keep being open about my faith in Jesus?
Because Jesus loves me, died to save me, redeemed me, set me free, strengthens me, sustains me, gives me peace, fills me with joy, blesses me with wisdom, guides me through His Spirit and does so much more for me than I could ask for or deserve, that’s why!
How could I keep silent about my amazing God Jesus who has transformed my life and continues to do so every moment?
How can I keep Jesus a secret from others who desperately need Him?
How can I just sit back and watch family, friends, loved ones and even strangers perish in their sins when I know Jesus is the ONLY One who can save them?
If someone were drowning (there was no way they could save themselves) and you had a lifesaver that you could throw out to them so they could grab on to it and be rescued, would you not do it? Would you just sit back and watch them drown, even worse, take pleasure in their suffering and death?
Sin is what everyone is drowning in.
Jesus is the Lifesaver, the Saviour.
We who have placed our trust and faith in Jesus are charged by God to share Jesus with others.
This is why I can’t/won’t stop till my dying day.
The Invitation
Do you know Jesus?
Have you read about Him/studied Him FOR YOURSELF OR is your knowledge about Jesus purely based on hearsay and opinions?
Whether you accept it or not, you’re a sinner and so is everyone else on Earth because God has said so.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23
Whether you accept it or not, the punishment for sin is death because God decided so BUT He sent Jesus knowing that we couldn’t do anything to save ourselves!
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
God IS love (1 John 4:8) and it is this love for us (John 3:16) that resulted in Jesus willingly dying on the cross for our sins, thereby taking our punishment upon Himself.
I will close with the words of Jesus Himself concerning those who accept Him or reject Him.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
John 3:36
Would you like to know more about Jesus? Would you like to know how to become a Christian? Please ask me and it would be my privilege to share more with you.
Please note that I don’t want to convince you to be a Christian, nor can I make you one. The “sinners prayer” doesn’t magically make you a Christian either. It is God’s Holy Spirit alone who can and will help you come to faith in Christ.
My prayer is that one day, you will come to know Jesus and have faith in Him like I do.
God bless you.
Thank Sri 🙂