Reality

Today I have cried a lot.

I cry for joy, and I cry for sorrow.

I cried because Jesus endured one of the most horrifically painful deaths this world has ever seen FOR ME - all while knowing the wretched blackness of my heart. He knew that I had the utter inability to save me from me, the utter inability to defeat the clutches of my flesh on my own, and the predisposition to fight goodness every step of the way, yet He still saved me. He chose me, and he saved me. And that is the sweetest thing I have ever known. These tears = good tears

However, I also cry because of conviction. I feel as though I have done many friends and acquaintances in my life a huge disservice. I looked around at church today, every pew overflowing, and I checked my social media, all abounding with posts about Jesus - and I saw the grips of shallowness. Most people I see, don't truly grasp the full en-compensation of the cross. The idea that "believing" in God is enough, that going to church every once in awhile is enough - that posting a verse on social media every once in while is enough....it's not. 

Jesus changes everything. Absolutely everything.

If you claim Jesus, nothing about your life should point to this world. Don't be fooled by the whispered lies that Satan tells us, Jesus calls for radical obedience and surrender, and nothing less. For my generation the break down is simple. Drunkenness, Premarital Sex, Drugs, Crude language to name a few (Galatians 5:19-21) (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)...these things are so worldly, and there is absolutely no place in your life for them if you love Jesus. This isn't far fetched, this isn't asking too much, this isn't "radical", no no this is biblical. No one is perfect, but Jesus brings about conviction and a desire for things that glorify Him. I don't think it is possible to truly be abiding in Him and not be passionate about following His word and bringing Him glory. That is a paradox, and unattainable one at that.


"This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. " Romans 3:22-26

 Breakdown:

- We have all sinned
- We are all incapable of saving ourselves, and in need of a Savior
- This is achieved solely by faith in Jesus. No prayer, no good work, no religious act will save you. It is completely a matter of the heart and abiding in the fullness of His grace.
- This faith results in a radical submission to God, that His glory becomes more important that anything else. It is not time given once a day, once a week, once a month, or once a year. It is living every single second in full submission to Him.

I was in a place 2 years ago where I had grown up in the church and had heard the gospel over and over and over again, and even called myself a believer even though nothing in my life pointed towards it. I partied, I cursed, I treated people poorly but for some reason thought that because I believed in God and went to church that I would go to heaven, that surely God would let me in at the end of my time. I was wrong, and I think there are a lot of other people who are wrong. Believing is not enough, James 2:19 - "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder." Belief is nothing, abiding in it is everything. Everything about our lives should point to Him.

God even goes as far as to say he despises those who claim him but don't truly follow him - those who consider themselves "lukewarm" christians, who believe in him but aren't super committed to it all. He says that lukewarm, halfhearted following is useless, that it sickens our souls, that your kidding yourself. He is saying that this kind of salt is not even fit "for the manure pile." (Luke 14:34-35) Again in Revelation, there is a letter to the Church in Laodicea, God calls them a luke warm people as well. He says he will "spit them out of His mouth", claiming Him with no true manifestation of it in your life is disgusting to God. He wants all or nothing.

I wrote this post very quickly, and with a burdened heart so I am sorry if it seems scrambled at points but if you take nothing else from this post, take this: Jesus is better. I relished in the world at one time, partaking in every "good" thing she handed me. The grace of Jesus is so much sweeter than anything this world has to offer. Nothing compares, nothing.