I am a Christian. Do not label me a religious fanatic or conservative political sympathizer and then feel content to mark the truth of Christianity with the same narrow-minded and subjective sentiment. You can’t judge a healthy grapevine by a few rotten grapes or the intrusive weeds around it, and then ignore the healthy vine, branches, and good fruit it produces. I suppose you could, but it would not detract, in the least, from the actual truth about the vine as a whole. So too, a person’s unweighted judgments of Christianity will not detract from its predominance over the entire darkened world by the saving light it gives. However arrogant that may sound, it is the truth.
Ephesians 4:4–6 (NKJV) – There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Real Christians have known the world, and the world has known them. There is no veil to conceal our past hypocrisies. We have as much inclination towards fleshly desire and worldly validation as anyone. But we are changed, we are washed clean! We have been made new creatures because we abide in Christ and the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new for us (2 Corinthians 5:17). We do not consider this world our home. We are not patriots for earthly governments forever; we are Christians forever. Therefore, we, who have chosen to be Christians must live as sojourners who carry a hopeful message for those native to the world. You can be satisfied and live forever in a home prepared and waiting; where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:20).
Jesus has chosen us out of the world (John 15:18+19) that we might live with Him forever, free from the guilty stains of sin. Sin has no lasting satisfaction. I have known failures of the deepest and darkest kind. I have shared in the trials of loss and struggled through the troubles of my poor choices. I have sunk low in the mire of depression and felt the weight of indebtedness. I have been everything opposite of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) at one time or another. The one hope I have that I hold tightly to is that even though my flesh and heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26).
In all of humanity’s striving for a perfect exit from this life, they miss the mark by not shooting for the right goal. Remember, you will not take anything with you, and that which you leave behind will not last forever. The proper goal is to reach Him who is calling you to become Children of the Living God, Jesus Christ, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). He is real, and He is coming again to gather us Christians to everlasting peace. Oh, how I pray that you who do not know Him as real Christians do, would be there with us at that day.
