Welcome back! Last time we talked about your new identity in Christ, and today I want to help you understand just how significant your decision to follow Jesus really is. Sometimes we make decisions without fully grasping their importance, but your choice to follow Christ is truly the most consequential decision you'll ever make.
You know, in Romans 10:9-10, the apostle Paul writes, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." There's something profound happening in that moment of genuine faith.
Think about when a president or king is inaugurated. There's a specific moment when they take the oath of office, but that moment represents a massive transfer of authority and responsibility. Everything changes in that moment, even though it might not feel different immediately. Your decision to follow Christ is like that - a decisive moment that changes everything, even if you don't feel all the effects right away.
When you made your decision to follow Jesus, several monumental things happened. First, you were transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's Son. Colossians tells us that God "has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." You're under new management now! Second, your eternal destiny changed. The Bible is clear that without Christ, we were headed toward judgment, but in Christ, we're headed toward eternal life with Him. Third, your relationship with God fundamentally changed - from being separated by sin to being reconciled as His child.
It's important to understand that your salvation isn't based on the intensity of your feelings when you made your decision. Some people have powerful emotional experiences, while others make a quiet, thoughtful commitment. The power isn't in your emotions but in the One you've put your trust in. Your decision's significance comes from God's faithfulness to His promises, not from how you felt in that moment.
Here's what I want you to do this week: Take some time to write down your decision story. When did you decide to follow Jesus? What led to that decision? Who was involved? What Scripture influenced you? Then share that story with at least one person. Your testimony is powerful, and articulating it helps you grasp the significance of what happened.
The decision you've made is just the beginning of a lifelong journey with Jesus. Every journey has a starting point, and you've taken that crucial first step. In the days ahead, we'll explore all that flows from this pivotal decision. But for now, simply rest in the knowledge that you've made the most important choice anyone can make - to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And I'm so thankful you've made that decision!
Talk soon!