CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER

 

          Take a look at your life. When God looks at your life what does He see? Sin has wrecked and marred our lives. Sin is any departure from God's perfect standards of righteousness. Sin may involve actions, words or thoughts. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (Romans 1:18) Becoming a Christian requires change. We must remove old habits and develop new ones. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) Jesus came and died and rose again to provide the means of our salvation. "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5) God wants to be in control of your life. Christians are transformed or changed by renewing their minds. (Romans 12:1-2) We are taught in God's word to "be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:23) We must not seek to be like the world, but to use our bodies in God's service. Here are some thoughts that could change your life forever.

 

          The choices we make affect our happiness here and hereafter. As we grow in the Lord and learn more about how scripture affects our lifestyle, we make choices that work with our new growth in Christ. When we are at the crossroads and faced with a decision, we first have to decide if we are in control or if God is in control. "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." (Romans 6:13) Will you choose for God?

 

          Recognize that you are responsible for what you do with your life. Human nature being what it is, each of us is inclined to put the blame on others for our own shortcomings or misfortunes. You must learn to shoulder the responsibilities for your life and to admit your own weakness without blaming others. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are a royal priesthood. We Christians are royal priesthood through Christ. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Peter 2:9) Christians should be the most responsible people on earth.

 

          Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become. My Christian integrity means that I am deciding to integrate my heart's value into my daily living. During our life long journeys, as believers, we are given difficulties, challenges of emotional experiences that will be used to help us depend on the Lord for our strength and to ultimately help us grow closer to Him. How we react to these situations will determine where we will be or how we will grow in our walks and how we will be remembered as Christians. What are you going to become in your life. "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)

 

          God has blessed us with the great privilege of being a part of the God planned, heaven promised and blood bought church. You can be just a Christian! To become a Christian hear the word (John 6:44-45), believe in God and in Jesus (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus as Lord (Acts 8:37) and be baptized into Christ. (Romans 6:3-4) "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19)

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA