Oct. 1st, 2022: I’m Celebrating 55 Years of Being a Christian
Oct. 1st, 2022: I’m Celebrating 55 Years of Being a Christian
In a few days, I’ll be celebrating 55 years of following Christ. On October 1st, 1967, I received Christ as my Lord and Savior. I had no idea what the future held, but I’ve never regretted putting my life into the hands of such a wonderful Savior and great God. Not only did I have my sins forgiven, I began a life of adventure.
But in those early days of learning about the Christian life, I believed some lies that I didn’t even know were a part of my thinking and expectations. So this year, I again want to share those lies. Maybe you will identify what you’ve believed (or are believing).
In the beginning, I had some wrong ideas about the Christian life, like:
I’ll become perfect, I’ll figure out God, and the Bible will become boring. TWEET THAT!!!!!
LIE #1: I’ll become perfect.
I thought I’d become a Christian so that God could make me instantly perfect. But then I learned Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (NIV). That let me know that I would always be in a process of growth.
LIE #2: I’ll figure out God.
It seemed like learning God’s attributes and reading about Him in the Bible would enable me to know how and why He did things. The Bible said God answers prayers and is dependable. Therefore, if I ask, God will answer.
Then came a short term missionary trip to Jamaica. One evening I needed to decide where our witnessing team would work the next day. I prayed and sensed God’s leading clearly. What a thrill!
But the next day it rained such a torrent that even the locals weren’t out and about. I was discouraged. Could I ever trust that I could know God’s voice?
There have been many situations like that, and also, times when it turned out well. I learned I might not always know God’s will perfectly but I could trust God knew what He was doing, even when I didn’t.
LIE #3: The Bible will become boring.
“After all, you can only read a book so many times,” I thought.
Many years ago I was furious at a Christian company which reneged on giving a refund. I tried to surrender knowing it was God’s money to do with as He pleased, yet I slipped back into old patterns of wanting revenge and our money back!
One day I surrendered again, crying out to God by writing in my journal, “Father God, this is not hidden from Your sight and neither are Your eyes closed and uncaring. Thank you, Lord, that I can surrender all my cares to You—and the money.”
I suddenly felt directed by the Holy Spirit to look at Jeremiah 17. At the top of that page a verse jumped out at me: “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes” (Jeremiah 16:17, NIV).
I was shocked. That verse confirmed the very thing I had written in my journal just moments before. I realized that the Word of God applied by the Spirit of God gives all Christians an entire lifetime of finding the Bible relevant for every situation and challenge.
Of course, these three lessons are only a few of many. I trust that there will be many more lessons ahead.
I would love to hear about lies that have been corrected over the time you have known Christ. Feel free to include how long you’ve known the Lord (if you can identify the time your commitment started).
