Why I do What I do
Thank you friend for helping to draw this out of my heart..
It seems people wonder why I do what I do. I guess they wonder why I post on Facebook or why I post blogs. I’m sure it wouldn’t be an issue if it wasn’t for the content of my posts. Some may say I should give it a rest. Some may ask why I don’t have anything else I could talk about. Someone may even go as far as to say that I should just stop because no one cares. Some may say that no one wants to hear it. Others have gone as far to verbalize it, ‘Jesus Freak’, ‘Religious’, ‘part of a cult’, ‘Crazy’, ‘a fanatic’, or the ever popular, ‘holier than thou’. Holier than thou I am not.. and very far from being perfect. So why do I do what I do? Why is the majority of what I communicate about Jesus Christ? Well, my life isn’t very interesting. There isn’t much going on in my personal life that deserves to be mentioned. The one thing that is worthy of talking about is Jesus Christ.
You see, I was a living dead man. Walking the earth and thinking that I was alive, living in freedom. I lived for the world and went along with whatever culture, surroundings, and/or however I was trained. It’s what I knew as the right thing(s) to do. I was a slave and was trained by man into thinking that everything I did was for the glory of myself. It was like being a functioning alcoholic. I wasn’t looking for God and all I did was the holiday/wedding/funeral Church thing. You know, going through the motions of being a Christian. I never knew what it was to be a Christian outside of, “I believe Jesus died for my sins, I’m forgiven, and I now go to heaven.” But something started to happen to me. The real Christ showed up…
By God’s grace and mercy, He led me to understand what it really meant to be saved. He changed me. I was handed a gift that cannot be bought with any amount of good works or deeds. I was dead in my sins and heading to hell to face the wrath of God. But He saved me for His sake. Originally, I thought I was saved for my sake (selfish desire of not going to hell). Christ took this ‘dead man walking’, and He killed him on the Cross through faith. In return, I now have received His glory, not my glory. It’s all about Him, not me. I (the old selfish man) am dying a death on that Cross in-Christ. In return, I receive the glory of Christ that strengthens me to strive towards His likeness. Not that I have arrived, as I still stumble, but I get up. I’m beatin’ down w/ stress, He strengthens me to get up. Worry slashes a stripe on my back, He strengthens me to get up. Selfish desires rouse their ugly head and I bleed, He strengthens me to get up. My dearest friends smack me, spit on me, talk behind my back, and toss jabs out, He strengthens me to get up. I slip and fall as I carry the Cross, and He strengthens me to get up! He helps me to keep on keepin’ on towards the goal..
I understand that salvation may not be that important to any one reading this. I understand that eternal life may not be on someones to do list. It wasn’t on mine either. The way it happened was like getting hit by a truck from out of nowhere. Eyes were opened. These things can only happen with the hand of God Almighty. He is the author and finisher of our faith and salvation.
What’s crazy about this is that I didn’t deserve salvation.. I deserved hell. God was not obligated to save me. He didn’t save me for me. He didn’t save me for any other reason than His glory. People may ask, “What kind of God is that?” My answer is that He’s a real God who can’t be bent to do my sinful will. If the idea of an all powerful, faithful, holy, righteous, and an all seeing God, who created all things, and who is demanding worship, praise and glory.. If this bothers you and God cannot be accepted, then walk away. But please don’t try to stand in my way, I’m marching onward.
Many times when I take an action on Facebook or a blog, it’s because of Him. Everything “I” have ever taken claim for is gone, but everything He has given is still here and will always remain. People worship themselves and say that they don’t need God. It’s because we want to be a god controlling every aspect of our lives. People can’t get with Jesus because He tears down our house of cards. The kicker is that Christ said that the world will hate the believer. He will affect everyone, whether you believe or not.
All of this, plus my calling to reveal the things He shows me, to shine Christ and His saving grace. I do this because I woke up from sleeping with pigs. I do this because I looked in the mirror. I do this because I saw the alternative. I saw life built on human wisdom, it didn’t add up. I saw it because He opened my eyes, it was nothing of my own doing. I do this because He continues to love even though I express hate towards Him in moral disobedience.
Some also say that I have self esteem issues. People don’t understand. Life is no longer filled with me trying to validate myself or judge my character against a dying world. I’m not trying to cope.. that’s what idols do. I judge my character against the Truth, Jesus Christ. Christ is not a idol, He is God. People say I believe in words written by men. I laugh. What man writes to condemn himself? People will usually say this because His word is contrary to the selfish nature of man. What man writes off all his options and leaves Jesus as a Savior? Salvation is my ultimate reason, its the Gospel. If I found a great deal on computer hardware, clothes, or a great place to eat, the majority would want to know. But on that Last Day.. no one cares about cars, food, and other worldly lusts. We look at those who knew Christ, and ask, “Why didn’t you warn me?” God will ask the same question and hold all accountable. The most important words are about Jesus Christ. Ear tickling messages about a better you are worthless and feed into the very thing Christ destroys. When we speak of Him, He is lifted up and glorified and our fleshly nature is brought low. My purpose is His glory not my own. I answer to the one who can destroy the body and the spirit.
I do what I do for God’s glory. I said it before and I’ll say it again. If you end up hating me in this world and you go to heaven, then His mission accomplished. This may be harsh to the misunderstood ear – I could care less, nor do I give a rats ass about what the flesh of man thinks of me. I’m in love with God and He’s in love with our souls. God cares about the real you, the being that stands behind the veil, behind the fake masks, and behind the wall that is the pride of life. It is my reasonable service to be used by Him so that He may one day welcome you into His opened arms. I do what I do because God loved me first when I was still a sinner and I know He has this same love for you. He wants you to be with Him because of love. I have the desire of God’s heart… I desire that He gets to your heart and soul. That’s why I do what I do..
2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
