Expert: John of AllFaith - 11/24/2009

Question
"Hello John. i have a question on our religion. to tell you about me, im 17 years old, been saved. ive accepted Jesus as my savior. i love him with all my heart. I never mean to question the Lord, but im growing up in a town full of Atheists. all they base living on is science. they have no faith in God whatsoever. the thing is, when i listen to them, i start to think that maybe God doesnt exist. that its a myth. now im afraid of dying because there might not be a heaven. the world is just cruel and evil, and now im scared of living. do you have any advice on what i should do? thank you and God Bless!!!!!"


Answer
Hi Chris,

Its not just your town, the Western World has become an Atheistic stronghold... as the prophets foretold it would.

One major needful thing is maintaining a godly attitude toward your faith and the world.
Faith is more than a matter of the heart. It is also a question of the intellect, of will power, and of intention.

God says: Come let us reason together... (Isaiah 1:18) and Paul says having done all to stand... STAND (Ephesians 6:13).

I'm not talking about witnessing to others here, but about building your own knowledge and faith.

So reason, embrace your faith intellectually as well as emotionally and with faith and then decide that you WILL live as a persona of faith no matter what.

Seriously study the Bible.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...

Dig into the Scriptures. Its easy for those without faith and knowledge to mock what they don't understand. If you seriously learn the Bible you will discover its wealth of knowledge and this will increase your devotion to God and His word.

Spend serious time in prayer and contemplation with God. Not just a minute of saying grace before meals, close your bedroom door and talk to God like a son to his loving father. Ask Him serious questions, acknowledge your doubts to Him, seek God in earnestness and be unceasing about it. When you receive moments of clarity and understanding thank Him for the insights.

"Seek and you will find" "Ask and will be given..." Don't seek, don't ask... and we get little or nothing in return.

Far too many Christians act as though being a Christian means simply walking to the alter (or whatever), reciting the sinner's prayer (or whatever) and then attending services occasionally. That's just the beginning.

"Getting saved" is easy and we as Baptists understand that once attained our salvation is certain... but it doesn't end there. Re-read this well-known scripture:

Ephesians ; 2:8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
2:9 not of works, that no one would boast.

That's the easy part and most people stop reading at verse 9 but keep going:

2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

See that?
You are saved. Praise God... now get moving!

We are called (ordained) to walk our faith.

Not so easy eh?

The first followers of Jesus referred to his teachings as "the Way" (Act 18:25 etc) because they set out a path or way we are supposed to walk. God is not static. He is always moving. If we are not following, not walking the Way, then while we may be "saved" we are not truly his disciples.

Determine to be a Disciple of the Master. Learn and embrace his Way.

As you study the Bible and walk/live your faith frequently ask that old question: What would Jesus do? in this situation.

The answer to that question is what you are "ordained" to do as a Christ-like one ("christian").

Help people. Love people. 'Judge not lest you be judged.' Do good towards people with an eye to helping them and attracting them in love to God. Maybe volunteer at a mission, a food bank etc. If you blog or do web-work post helpful articles and thoughts to encourage people... the possibilities to serve God and others are endless:

Matthew 22:35 One of them, a Torah scholar, asked him a question, testing him. 22:36 "Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"
22:37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
22:39 A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
22:40 The whole Torah and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."

As Believers we are called to LIVE as Believers in love.

And recall this admonition:

II Corinthians 6:14 Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
6:15 What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?

Christians are told:

Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
12:2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Each of us must determine how to best do this of course.

There is nothing wrong with having non-Christian friends, just don't be "unevenly yoked" with them. Spend more time with sincere people of faith than with unbelievers unless you are ministering to them.

Think about this as well:

If the Atheists are correct (they are not) what will you have lost by living a Christian life?

But

If the Bible is correct, what will you have gained by it? And, what will you have lost by rejecting God?

Living a devout life of faith produces joy, peace and happiness even in the midst of the inevitable times of turmoil and hardship all go through. As a person of faith you lose nothing and gain everything.

In the end however, we each must decide to follow Christ. Its like that old hymn:

I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back.

Though non go with me
Still I will follow...

Here's a nice video of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfSEkf38m5E

Decide
And
Having done all to stand,
Stand.

Hope this helps,
~ Pastor John