Were you taught to “BELIVE"

We simply know a tiny bit about God.

I once had a conversation with one of my Wild Boys about the difference between knowing about someone, and actually knowing them. He (oh so sweetly) professed to want to tell people about God when he grew up. And I told him that that’s wonderful, but people don’t just need to know about God, they need to know God.

And I asked him, “What if I knew a boy, and I told him all about you? I told him your name, and I told him when you were born, and I told him who your mommy and daddy were, and I told him the things that you’ve done, and what you eat on holidays, and how wise you are, and some of the things you say…..would this boy know you, or only know about you?”

This is what people do with Jesus.  They agree with a list of historical facts, but they never turn away from the things about themselves that aren’t of God and passionately pursue following God in a transformed life.

Do you know who knew about God?  The Jewish religious teachers of Jesus’ time.  Did it save them?  No.  You know who absolutely believes in our God and knows that Jesus was a sacrifice for us?  Demons.  Satan himself. Does it save them?  No.  Jesus himself even  said that not everyone who says “You are Lord” will be saved.

We don’t just need to tell people about God, we need to take them to meet Him. Because when people meet God, it changes their life.  And a changed life is the only real evidence of salvation.

But, how do we take people to meet God?

Well, I believe that if you’re a really real, truly real, life-changed Christian, God lives in you.

Which means, if you’re really walking with and following Him, then when people see you, when they interact with you, when they hear you speak, they should see some  small (or large) glimmer of Him.  They should see something.  That’s why Christians hurts me so much.  Because there are so many people claiming the name of my Jesus, but showing the world a different Jesus.

If Jesus is in us and we reflect Him like a mirror to others, then a lot of people are telling their friends and the world that…the old you die.  Just like Jesus did.  And the new you rises.  Just like Jesus did.

And you are changed.

Forever and irrevocably changed.

Simply believing won’t save you.  Only jumping into the deep end of faith and following will.

Were you taught that “believing in” Jesus would save you?