Yesterday I had a coffee with a young man from the church I’m a Pastor at.
He asked me this question…
“How come you are so sure of what you believe in, to the point where you have dedicated your life to being a Pastor”.
I don’t think I had ever truly stopped to ponder that question in the way that this man asked it.
I sat back in my chair and said, “That’s a really good question.”
I then proceeded to tell him why I believe what I believe, and I realised I could have talked for hours.
In short, this is what I said;
“I am convinced through intellect, research, relationships and experiences, that Jesus not only lived, but that He is the only way to God.
I am convinced that Adam and Eve actually lived, that God actually created the earth and that they actually chose to sin by eating the fruit.
I am convinced that heaven and hell are real.
I am convinced that all other ways of living are counterfeits to the freedom that comes through following Christ. When stacked up against every other religion, philosophy, and way of life, Christianity not only makes sense, but Christ has offers the greatest freedom, has the ultimate authority, and wins every time.
I have seen demons, and I have seen them flee at the name of Jesus. I have seen the power of God, not just in my life, but in so many others.
I cannot argue with the love and freedom that comes through Christ.
Therefore, I can not think of a greater thing to do with my time, than to share Christ with those who do not yet know Him, and to encourage Christians to share the hope of Christ with others who don’t yet know Him either, and that is why I am a Pastor. To activate Christians to actually be followers of Christ and to ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel’.”
It got me thinking though, how ready are we to give an answer for the things that we believe in, and the way we spend our time?
How prepared are you to give reason for your hope or the path you have chosen in life, and how you spend your time? (read 1 Peter 3:15)
The young man said something to me in the conversation that followed that impacted me greatly.
“I’ve worked out my values, now I just have to get my lifestyle to match up with these values.”
That is a whole other can of worms there, but let me just say this.
If you believe it, do it, by God’s grace.
That’s the only way I am ever able to live out what I believe, by God’s grace.
- The Scarboroughs - 