Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Let 2015 be the year of the authentic Christian; a man who is willing to give up self in order to be available for God’s purposes and plans. Have we become good at fooling ourselves? Be assured we are not fooling God. Let’s test the sincerity of our hearts based on our thoughts and actions to determine if we are the men Christ called us to be keeping in mind that God does not ask of us that which he will not provide the grace and power to do. At the end of his ministry the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13

In Philippians 3:12 Paul implores us to, “Live up to what we have already attained.” I suspect we may feel uncomfortable at times “acting” like Christians. We have some preconceived idea that being a “Christian” means we are to be somehow different. But we are not sure how to do it. Some say, “fake it until you make it,” as if there is something unauthentic about how a follower of Christ is to think and act. In this I believe, that in faking,  we are cheating ourselves and others about what it is like to be a Spirit filled follower of Jesus.

Maturing in Jesus is a process for sure (Philippians 1:6). But we are not given an excuse by God to stand in the back of the room until we have a PH.D in Christianity before we start sharing Jesus with others. In (1 Peter 3:15) we are told to, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” When combined with (John 6:44) where Jesus says, “”No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day,” we see that all we are to do is, “ not duck” (Dennis Shaves) when given the opportunity to share our faith in Jesus.  We are required to simply be authentic witnesses of how Christ has made a difference in our lives. With maturity comes a more effective witnessing because we become better able, through experience and learning, to support the claims of Christ by referencing the Bible.

(2 Timothy 2:15) is God’s call to us to grow in understanding of his word (the Bible) so that we may be effective in our sharing of Christ. It says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Christ has called us to be a conduit for his love and hope to all men. We have been blessed to be a blessing to others, not simply bask in the joy of God’s glory with the attitude that, “I got mine.” Let the year 2015 be the year we step up our efforts to share our faith, to stand up for Jesus when called and not to draw back when Christ is counting on us. Hebrews 10:39  warns, “But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

In Mark 4, Jesus tells the parable of the sower, comparing the spiritual condition of a men. Jesus’ message highlights four different responses to the His message, the Gospel.

1.            The seed is “the word.” The hard ground represents the person who is hardened by sin; he hears but does not understand the word. Satan plucks the message away, keeping the heart dull and preventing “the word” from making an impression.

2.            The rocky ground represents a person who professes delight with “the word.” However, this person’s heart is not changed. When troubles come into his life, his so-called faith quickly disappears.

3.            The thorny ground depicts the person who seems to receive “the word,” but whose heart is full of riches, pleasures, and lusts. He ends up having no time for it.

4.            The good represents the person who hears, understands, and receives “the word” and then allows it to bring result in his life. The person represented by the “good soil” is the only one of the four who is truly saved, because salvation’s proof is fruit (Matthew 3:7-8; 7:15-20).

Consider the following paths to maturity of back sliding in the Christian life:

1. New Christian:  Joyful and anxious to share how Christ has changed his life. Knows very little about the bible but understands that his is saved from his sins because Jesus went to the cross and arose from the dead for him.
2. Growing Christian:  Excited about learning; reads the bible often and shares with others his new found faith. Starts to lose the emotional high but still grateful for salvation. Finds great joy in God’s word. Insatiable for more knowledge.
3. Settled in Christian:  Starts to think he knows enough to get by. Has to work harder to muster up the excitement about grace. Becoming a bit more judgmental of others. Relationship with Christ is replaced with “religion”.
4. Dead in their seat Christian:  Has stopped attending worship services, reads the bible less because, “He knows all he thinks he needs to know about Jesus.” Is satisfied with himself in terms of religious dogma, stops reading the bible and falls back into the pattern of the world as he draws farther away from Jesus. Hopes Jesus is the Genie in the sky who will provide the means of escape from tough times only. Let’s others do God’s work.
5. Mature Christian:  Grows in knowledge of Christ by developing a personal relationship with Jesus. Recognizes that all he has comes from the creator God who loves him and sent His son, Jesus, to atone for his sins. Recognizes that it is God who will have to provide the faith and grace necessary for the man to pull off what God has asked of him. Is willing to walk one step at a time, not knowing what the next step might be, but willing to trust God who is his protector and sustainer. Has been humbled enough in life, shared enough sorrows, experienced defeats and hurtful experiences and recognizes he is not in control of life’s circumstances. Understands that Christ is not the “great Genie” in the sky whose purpose is to give the man what he wants when he wants it. Has understood that what the world honors God hates. Is willing to give us his own life (Self) in order to allow Christ to live in him; to have his way in the man. Sees a reward in the future not here on earth.  Has made love the hallmark of his life.
6. Note:  Skipping steps #3 and #4 are common but not required or advised.

The day after Christmas I sat with a friend who enjoys debating the topic of religion. She believes that once she can get her mind wrapped around the distinctions between different religions and denominations she would have a handle on “truth” and “God”. In effect she was hoping to put God into a box so she could be “comfortable” with Him. If we read the Bible we see that God is not a God who can be fully understood or anticipated. He is God, not a formula! (Isaiah 55:8) says, “My ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts.” God is sovereign and it is His plans that will prevail. Jesus did not come to explain God. He came to save men’s souls. Salvation is our message to the world, one man at a time.

No matter where we are in our Christian walk we are to share Christ. We are called to, “Live up to that what we have already obtained.” Oswald Chambers calls our job one of “going out.” In his devotional he says,  “Each morning you wake it is to be a ‘going out’, building in confidence on God.” In Mark 6: 8-11  Jesus, told his disciples to go out and preach saying, “Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belt.” (Mark 6:4). For Abraham and the disciples it was a journey of faith and trust based on what God had demonstrated to them. We are called to do the same.

The bible is full of athletic metaphors and similes. I like that because great athletes understand sacrifice and dedication. Consider God’s marching orders to us in Hebrews 12:1-3.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Give consideration how God would have you, “Live up to what you have obtained,” from Him in 2015. What false ideas about God are we maintaining  we need to ditch. What limitations have you placed on God? What limitations have you placed on ourselves as a children of the Almighty God? Finally think about what Christ has done for you and then what He may be asking of you in 2015. Write them down! Pray about them. “Draw close to God and he will draw close to you. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7-8.