John14six blog:
- Statement of faith: John 14:6
- Display the faith
- Timothy: be ready
- Pray
This is a call to all Christians, a call to stand up and be heard. For too long we have been the silent majority. Christianity is the largest religion in the world We are often held in a negative regard and it is time for change. This is a peaceful call, a call to make your faith known, to explain your religion, to welcome and comfort.
I will use myself as an example. I believe in a peaceful, loving, and forgiving God. I was raised in a Christian home and became a Christian at age 12. I went off to college and questioned everything. I am a scientist and struggled with how God fit into my life. I heard all about evolution, learned about politics, and life….never once did God fit into the mix. I think this is largely because he has been pushed aside in our society. Then one day as I was walking through campus, a man had a microphone and was fielding questions. Mostly from non-believers that wanted to tear apart religion and the idea of God. He defended his faith, religion, and how God fits into everything. It was a moment of clarity, a moment of re-birth, and a charge to act. But like most Christians, I have kept my faith “personal”. I love my God, I go to church, and I bite my tongue too often. It is time for change. It has been said that Christians “cling to their religion” in times of trouble. That is absolutely true, but we cling to our religion in times of joy, times of sadness, and anytime in between. It is time to make our personal relationship with God more public. We must embrace our faith, wear it as a badge of honor, be ready to defend it, and pray.
We start by embracing our faith. If you are unsure, have doubts, questions, and / or fears…run to your bible. You will find the answers there. Do not rely on the internet, including this blog or others. Go to the bible and you will find the answer. I have read it cover to cover and can tell you with absolute certainty, the answers are there. John 14:6 is a verse that says it all.
Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV).
Faith comes through believing in Jesus Christ, and through him we are reborn into a new life…and without him we are lost. He does not say that this is one way, but rather “I am the way.” Jesus lived a perfect life on earth and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins through grace. All you have to do is believe in him. You can not earn your way into heaven, you can not walk enough old ladies across the street, or say enough hail Marys. It is free, but was not cheap. Jesus said, I stand outside and knock. All you have to do is open the door.
Being firm in your faith is crucial, but only the first step. This is a call to make your faith public. I am not advocating you go stand on the street corner with a bull horn, but rather consider this. If you were to ask your three closest friends, your co-workers, or even your relatives, if they know you are a Christian. What would they say? I am not saying you run to them and plead for their souls, but rather make sure they know where your soul is headed when you go before Saint Peter. You may have a friend or co-worker searching for answers, agonizing over his soul, or hold Christians in a negative light. I know this may sound hard and not your personality, but it can be very easy. Everyone asks what you did this past weekend. Tell them you went to church. You don’t have to recite the lesson, just let them know you were there. Don’t tuck that cross you wear around your neck under your shirt, let people know you are wearing it. My church does their baptisms in the pacific ocean for all to see. I reluctantly told co-workers I was going to watch, and was amazed at their questions and interest. Regardless of how you do it, make sure you will know how you friends, co-workers, and family will answer if the question was asked: did you know I was a Christian?
A word of caution, there will be questions. Be ready to answer. I had questions, and I found the answers. When someone asks questions, you have to be ready to answer them. That does not mean you need to memorize a ton of versus, but rather defend your faith through your own personal experience. As a scientist, people often ask me if I believe in evolution. My answer is that I believe in a creator of evolution. Regardless of what we discover in the cosmos, through genetic sequencing, carbon-dating, etc… no scientist will be able to prove or disprove there is a higher being controlling it all…it is called faith. Many people struggle with that, and will have questions.
Finally, we need to pray. Meet God daily and ask for guidance. God wants a personal relationship with you. Many people think that you can only pray in a church on your knees with your hands crossed. God is always available and knows your name. Sometimes it just takes a one word prayer: “Help.” God knows all. He does not need you to be on your knees, tell him your name, where you are, and all the events that led you to the situation you are in….he already knows. He just wants you to seek him, to choose him, to trust in him. Don’t worry, he will not let you down. Imagine you are a child learning to ride a bike. Your dad is running along side, with his hand just off the seat, just in case. The bike is steady and your confidence is building, then you hit a small rock…just enough to shake the wheel. All of the sudden, you are wobbling, unsure, and afraid. You do not explain to your dad that the rock you just ran over shook the bike and you are thinking you might fall any minute. No, you scream, daddy!!! He is there and immediately grabs the bike to steady you. God is the same way, you just need to ask for his help. He wants a relationship in good times and will be there in bad times. It is time to cling to your God.
This blog is my attempt to do all of the above. This will be a place for daily devotion to strength our faith. A place to display the faith and let people know who I am. A place to ask questions, and a place to meet God daily. It is a place where there will always be someone to pray for you and encourage you. It will always be centered around God.
