A couple of weeks ago, Facebook brought to my attention that
it had been one year since my first post.
I hate reading my own writing, but I decided to revisit the place where
I was a year ago. It feels like so
much longer. So much hurt and
healing, pain and love, choice and change has happened in just one year. I have been changed. Wow! I read and remember the overwhelming fear I had to write those
words. I was scared most to be
judged by my own words and have them used against me – and that is exactly what
happened this year by family and friends alike. I’ve experienced some serious hurt over these words to be
heaped onto my already grieving heart. But, in that hurt, I have been blessed to explore even deeper
depths of my faith and trust in God, and I’ve seen it change my life. I no longer fear my own faith like I
did a year ago. I don’t worry if
it would offend someone because there is nothing offensive about Jesus, and I
can put all of my trust in that and live in peace with what I will experience
in this world for His sake. But
that place of fear and worry was real for me, so this is for those who are
where I was then. This is for people
who identify as Christians but want to “fit in” with a corrupt world and
immoral society.
Back in the 90’s when I was growing up, “WWJD” bracelets
were popular. I remember I didn’t
really get it. What would Jesus do? Well, how would I know what he would
do? I remember a friend at school
explaining that it was supposed to remind them right from wrong. Truthfully, it isn’t any more
complicated than that. This
concept is so simple for children to understand and as we get older, we try to
manipulate our knowledge of what Jesus would do and not do. We want to put Jesus in the corner
while we live in the world and do what we
would do. We end up seeking and
needing so much love and acceptance from the tangible things of the earth – be
it people, objects, money, recognition – that we fear losing or not having
them. But these things are in
direct contrast with what God wants for us. He wants us to rely on Him, trust in Him, love Him wholly.
Do not love the world
or anything in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the
cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has
and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away,
but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Then, and only then, can we experience and understand peace
and joy without fear or worry on earth.
To believe in Jesus is to acknowledge His perfection and to strive to be
like him in all ways and at all times – not just when it fits our own motives. Even though we fail, the struggle
brings us closer to Jesus as we see our need for a Savior and obtain a greater
appreciation and reverence for what He did and continues to do for us. If we are to believe at all, then for
every situation, circumstance, or decision we should lead with: What would Jesus do? As we ponder that answer, it’s
important to not only see the Jesus on pop culture t-shirts with the caption
“Jesus is my homeboy” (you know the one!). If you need a “homeboy”, Jesus surely will be your best
friend. But, it’s equally
important to remember how Jesus is coming back again - coming in glory to judge
– so let’s be honest. Yes, he
loves us. And, yes, we’re
forgiven. But can we take a minute
to look at ourselves through his eyes? Isn’t it more than a little rude to
manipulate or change his words and actions and even undermine the intent in his
life and death on the cross? If
you believe in him enough to accept forgiveness of your sins and to expect he
carry you home to Heaven, then why not trust his perspective on the “little”
things? Should I go to church
every week and bring my children?
Should I make more time and put in more effort to study God’s word? And for social and political issues:
Should abortion – the killing of God-created life - be illegal? Since it’s a huge election year: Is it
important to vote for someone who shares the same religious views – someone who
respects and knows Jesus as their Savior and is humble before God – above all other
things? You can’t know exactly
what is in one’s heart, but you can get a pretty good idea from their words and
actions, and this should be a good place to start. I mean, if God is #1 in your life, does it matter if you
elect a leader who isn’t willing to protect you and your children from
suffering for His Name? Does
nothing else matter if your candidate has never and will never ask him/herself,
“What would Jesus do?” Additionally,
should I have to compromise my
relationship with God to maintain my relationships with the world? Should I worry less about what others think and more about what Jesus thinks? And, finally, should I be scared of
others judging me, especially for my faith?
I have read this plenty of times before, but now I truly get
it!
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and
said: “If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save
it. What good is it for a man to
gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him
when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38
So, I will repeat, just like last year, I am still not
perfect. I haven’t been and won’t
be, but unlike a year ago, I make no apologies. I’m not sorry for what I believe. I’m not sorry that by the grace of God what carries me
through each day without Luke’s presence is that I’ll see him again. I’m also not sorry for wanting and
wishing that for others. I won’t
apologize for Jesus saving my life and wanting to share that with everyone
around me. I thought where I was a
year ago I had peace with God but was still afraid. Now I can see where I stand now - unapologetically,
fearlessly, lovingly, confidently in love with Jesus. Now I’ve found peace and joy and true happiness. It’s taken me almost three decades to
get to this place so consider yourself blessed if it didn’t take you that
long. But if you haven’t given
your whole life over to living in the light, you are also blessed that Jesus
loves you still, right where you are!
It’s just up to you how you’ll respond – with faith or with fear – but I
know what Jesus would do!
