Christianity is more than just
something you believe. It is a lifestyle. That lifestyle involves three things:
everything. I don’t just automatically buy into the world’s system. I read an
ad, I see a tv show I don’t automatically say that must be true because it’s on
tv. When my friends at school or work say, "It doesn’t get any better than
this!" I say, "Yes it does! It does get better than this. There’s a
whole lot missing if you think that’s all there is to life just having a good
time." I evaluate everything. I use the mind that God gave me. The
Christian life is the most logical, rational way to live. It is irrational to
live apart from the creator.
2. I develop strong convictions. If I
don’t stand for something, I’ll fall for anything. I say, "God, give me
some convictions" in a society where everybody says, "It doesn’t
matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere." Nothing could be
further from the truth. You can be sincerely wrong. I can pick up a glass of
water and think it’s water but I’m drinking arsenic and it will kill me — it
will sincerely kill me.
You say there are many different
ways. That’s like saying I could go into a phone booth, dial any phone number
and get home. There’s one number. There’s some things that are right in the
world; there’s some things that are wrong. They all can’t be right when they’re
contradictory. You need to use your mind to check it out. Then you develop some
strong convictions based on the Word.
3. I love God with all my heart. That’s the third part of the lifestyle. I love
God with all my heart. Does God have your whole heart? In Revelation 2:4 Jesus
complains to some believers there, some Christians. God’s saying, "You’re
not out there in gross immorality. You’re really pretty good folks, you’re
doctrinally sound. But…," he said. "I’ve got one thing against you. You don’t love Me the way you used to
love Me." Could God say that about you? That you’ve lost the
spark. That you don’t have that thrill, that sense of being in love with God when
you first became a Christian and everything was so new and fresh and you’ve
allowed a relationship to be replaced by a routine. Subtly you’ve allowed other
things to creep in and God is no longer at the center of your life. He’s in
your life, but He’s over in a compartment. There are other things that are
taking priority — pleasures or possessions or position. He’s being crowded
out. You want a relationship to God but it’s not the only thing in your life.
There are other things that are equal or more important. It is so easy to
become infatuated with the world. Culture makes it look so glamorous. Most
affairs that happen, happen gradually. It starts first with complacency in your
relationship. Then comes compromise. You start giving in to the little things,
the little gray areas. Then you cave in.
Paul writes in a letter to his friend
Titus, "For the grace of God has been
revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from
godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with
self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God." Titus
4:11-12 NLT.
There’s no doubt in my mind that
there are some of us who are guilty of spiritual adultery. Strong words for a
strong problem. God is in your life but He is not number one. Other things have
taken precedence. The fact of the matter is, we deserve a divorce from God.
He’s got every ground for a divorce because we’ve been unfaithful. The good
news is there is forgiveness and He does love you and He does want you to return
to your first love and He says rekindle that romance with God and get to know
Him again. Take a long walk with Him. Return and confess your compromises. Say,
"God, I know what to do! I just need to get on track again."