Coming to Christ

 

I am musing about....

Our youth coming to Jesus

What is the most important thing we can teach our children? To "come to Jesus", to surrender their whole heart, to DECIDE to COMMIT to LIVE FOR HIM.

Why the emphasis? Why the "shouting"?

Well, here is where I am coming from.

I have read about, heard about and talked with dear ones who were "raised in church", considered themselves "Christians", knew the basics, but never truly grasped the Gospel and where they fit in to it.

I don't know. What do you think? There are those who are brought to church, taught the lessons, prayed with and for, were involved in all the youth group, Awana, mission trip things.....and yet, came to a point in their life where they questioned their faith, or admitted that they did not really "get it", those who were having trouble living the life, trying hard to "be good" and to do the "church thing" but not feeling the joy or experiencing the power of the Spirit. Then there are those, sadly, who are "leaving the  faith" and are being sucked into the lies  that this culture is presenting. 

Does it not come down to the beginning? Wait. Actually, I can not forget, my dear Grandma's hug of joy as she clasped me to her upon hearing of my surrender to Jesus and said "It is the end and not the beginning that counts." That was her way of encouraging me to "stay faithful". I know, is not God the faithful one? Will He not keep us faithful if we are truly "in Him"? Or can we choose, of our own free will, to turn away? This gets into deep theology. Another post for another day (maybe).  But we do know that our faith journey is a process, one of taking baby steps at times, giant leaps at others, a journey of sanctification, towards becoming more and more like Christ.

But, before this journey even begins, is it not imperative that one has their eyes focused on their leader guide (I realize that for some, their focus my need to be fine tuned by the work of the Spirit, mentors, etc.)? But is it not true that they need to  "sign the contract", that they understand the commitment? That they comprehend the sacrifice God provided; and the sacrifice He desires of them; their life? "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matt. 16:25. Again, I understand that there are those whose understanding and comprehension is limited, initially, relative to their lack of spiritual teaching. Thankfully, the LORD knows their heart, if they are truly committed, and He will help them, and all His children to learn and grow.

Commitment. That moment when a person draws a line in the sand and says "Now, today, I surrender to you Lord." And as they step past that line, they are on a new trajectory, a new path, as a new creature. For at that moment of surrender, the Holy Spirit enters a soul with life changing power and a "heart change" takes place!

We don't just morph into becoming a Child of God. It is not a process of hanging around church and Godly people and expecting that it will just rub off on us. It is not just learning all the right stuff. Yes, this all is influential, but it can not save us.

Once a "heart commitment" is made, there will need to be much dicipling, learning and growing along the way. It is acutally never ending. Mistakes are made, sin occurs, but God in His grace and mercy works in the converted soul and brings them into conviction, giving grace unto repentance and the restoration of His peace.

But without that initial moment of declaration and commitment, the journey is confused, difficult and ill-aligned. Without a moment of personal declaration, where an individual has a meaningful encouter with their Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit can not take up residency; the changed heart does not occur. That is not to say that it won't happen, down the road, as God is a pursuer of those with a desire to know and live for Him. He is gracious and merciful and is a loving provider.

It is just that, a person's spiritual life could be so much easier, have such greater clarity and recieve that necessary jump-start, when a child is raised with the understanding and expectation that....

Someday....

Someday, they will need to make their own personal commitment to live for and follow Jesus.

I remember, how that reality was so influential in my life. From as young as I can remember, I knew that day would come when I would need to "repent". It was always there. In front of me. I wondered. I prayed. I learned about Jesus and His Word along the way. I had a definite love and relationship with God (and Jesus) as a child. Yet, I knew, that someday, I would hear the call; the call that I would need to answer with a "Yes Lord", if I wanted to truly be His Child and be able to go to Heaven.

It made my childhood exciting. When would that time come? How would I know? I remember taking long horse back rides in the countryside, thinking and praying and wondering when the Lord would call me.

And in His way, in His time, He did. It was a beautiful thing. I do not want to imply that the "call" needs to be a huge lightening bolt experience. It is simply that time, when a person knows that God is tugging at their personal heart strings and is wanting to be invited into their heart. It is a call that often goes unanswered for a time, as a soul struggles with the reality of the commitment, when satan is trying so hard to confuse, redirect and preoccupy one's mind. It is often a time when sin looms invitingly before someone, teasing them with  the "pleasures of sin for a season". 

But oh the joy of sweet surrender. The peace!

I realize it is not always so easy. But no matter the journey, we all have our struggles along the way; those challenges that can draw us closer to our Father's heart, if we let them. God meets us in our struggles. He is there. He knows and He provides for those who are looking to Him.

So, all this to say...

Let's pray for young parents raising precious souls in this day.

Let's pray that churches are teaching the Truth of surrender and commitment. That souls are aware that true belief and faith represents sacrifice and laying our life down on the alter of God's will. It is not just a verbalization of belief, for even the demons believe. But rather an "all-in", a "signing on the dotted line", a stepping over the line in the sand. 

It seems so helpful to have a "line in the sand", a moment that one can point to and say, "this was the moment, this was the time".

I realize that not all were raised with this perspective. That there are those who may not be able to give a definitive date of when their moment of salvation occurred. I would never refute their faith at all. It is between the Lord and them. If they are walking with Jesus and if He has their heart, they know!

I am not saying that children are incapable of making this huge decision. I have read many accounts of those who did pray to Jesus at very young ages, and were able to stay the course all their lives, that the commitment was real and life changing. But that kind of mental maturity seems rare. More often, I read of those who may have made a childhood commitment and later found themselves needing to "rededicate" due to finally coming to a mature understanding of the meaning of truly living for Jesus!

I realize for many/most of you, you are probably thinking that this point is obvious, that it is universally understood. But, I have been blessed with several opportunities to hear and read of people's conversion stories and spiritual journies via my Christian life coaching practice and through volunteering at a Christian organization that aids adoptive families, and I have heard this story too many times. Too many dear people have been raised in "the church" but have never come to understand the Gospel; that God gave His Son who gave His life for them and their sins, and that He will bless them with His love, joy, peace, guidance and eternal salvation IF they give Him their life and surrender their heart to Him, who loves them so much!

True belief is followed by action. If you believe in the ability of a plane to fly and realize that in order to get to your destination, the only way you can do it is to fly....you fly. You do not just stand there, look at the plane with the ticket in your hand, remark that you believe it can get you there but then not enter the plane. We need to enter the plane of salvation by intentionally stepping over the threshold with the ticket Christ paid for us, in full. The ticket needs to be "acted upon" in order for it to be effective. God's grace and gift of salvation is available to us, may we use it, with grateful and obedient hearts!

So here is my main "take-away", and it is pretty simple....

I am just saying that if we can present our kids with this perspective of "someday you will need to surrender your heart to Jesus and decide to commit your life to Him (who loves and will then eternally guide and bless you)" we may be serving them well as they navagiate their own spiritual journies.