The Road with Jesus Christ

Before you were saved, you walked barefoot and alone on a dangerous, pointless road. People on this road just walk around aimlessly until death.  Jesus Christ saw your suffering and He pointed you to a different road with Him leading to Heaven and eternal life. Jesus walks a few steps ahead of you to guide you and stand in the way of anything that will try to harm you. All you have to do is keep your eyes on Him. As long as He's your focus you won't wander onto the wrong road.

Sometimes you go through seasons where you can clearly see Jesus. But there are times where circumstances fog your walk, making Him hard to see. Walking by faith means keeping your eyes on Him even though you can't see Him. It's about declaring that He's still there guiding you even though it doesn't seem like it.

Jesus told us this walk wasn't going to be easy. When He first lead you to this road He said:

Mathew 10:16-20 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.  Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

There are seasons when you are marching over 20 feet of snow, and there are seasons when it's 100 degrees outside and no water in sight. Despite the severity of these circumstances He is still in front guiding you. When you feel like you can't move any further, all you have to do is call on Him and He will come to your rescue. He will pick you up when your feet are tired, and He will quench your thirst. When you fall, He will be there to pick you up.

You see Jesus once walked on the same road you did. He endured the bumps and dangers, and He did so without falling. He give His life on the cross. He rose from the grave and dirt, and through His resurrection He paved a new road--the road He has you traveling on now. Unlike the road you started on, this road offers forgiveness through His blood and everlasting love.

As you travel on this road there are still dangers.

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

However there's no need to worry! As long as you stay on this road you are guaranteed freedom from death.

Since Satan can't grab you and kill you like he wants to, he will try to lure you away from Jesus. This is why there are signs all around you trying to tempt you into walking off the path God intended for you to be.

                                                   Don't fall for it! The more you stay focused on Jesus, the less time you'll have to see Satan's signs around you.

If you do fall into temptation and you wander off of the road, just call on Jesus. When Satan successfully tempts you into getting off of the road, he will then try to make you feel alone and rejected. He tries to convince you that Jesus has given up on you. He tries to tell you Jesus would rather focus on the sheep who didn't wander away. But remember what Jesus said:

Matthew 18:11-13 "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray."

So all you have to do is call on Jesus and He will find you and bring you back to His road.


                                   
 Being on the road with Jesus isn't enough. You have to be moving forward. Some of you are just sitting on the road. You are distracted by Satan's signs, but haven't necessarily left the road.

Perhaps it's because you are too caught up in the problems of the world, or maybe you are too focused on YouTube, Netflix, Facebook and other distractions. Don't get too caught up by the things of this world! We are only meant to pass through this world and take as many people with us as possible.

James 2:14-17 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Sitting on the road isn't going to get you any closer to your inheritance in Heaven. We are called to be sowers for God. We must sow seeds by telling people about the love Jesus has to offer them. Every time you speak with someone about Jesus, you are planting seeds along the road. Some may germinate and some may not. It's not our concern. Our only responsibility is to tell our testimonies. That way we leave a trail of seeds behind us so that others can follow.

 

Sometimes when you're walking, you will get a glimpse of people traveling down the road you used to. It may be discouraging because it seems like their lives are carefree. It seems like they are enjoying a life without hardships. But think back to the life you used to live. Think about the depression, and the unhappiness you constantly dealt with. The road you are on now is much safer.

Take a quick look behind you and see how far you've gone with Jesus! The troubles of your past are so far away now. What used to tower over you are now little specs in your past. Now look forward. Do you remember when your parents took you to an amusement park? Do you remember how excited you used to be when you were approaching the theme park and you would see the roller coasters?! In this same way God is showing you some of the beauties of Heaven right here on earth. You experience a piece of Heaven every time you are in God's presence. So enjoy this walk. Be grateful that you are no longer in the world. Remember Jesus is always in front of you guiding and protecting you. He loves you and through Him you have the key to Heaven's gates. So keep walking.


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The world's trash is God's treasure!

If it wasn't for God, I honestly don't know what I would do. It is only through Him that we have full acceptance. The people of the world size us up everyday, and 9 times out of 10 we amount to nothing to them. This world is filled with impossible standards. Many times when you do succeed, people only like you for a moment. Then it's on to the next one. Nothing is more hurtful than giving someone your all, and that person walks away the moment you can't give anymore. It's equally painful to work hard on something just for someone to tell you it isn't good enough.

There are so many rules that exist in this world, and so many expectations. You have to look a certain way, dress nice, and act in ways that cater to every individual. These rules hold no security. You can follow these rules step-by-step and still be told it's not good enough.

You are not good enough. This is the message Satan tries to send to you everyday. As long as we are on this earth, we are going to be scrutinized.

John 7:20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered.

Matthew 9:3 “This fellow is blaspheming!”

Luke 23:35-39: The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

These are just some of the many insults Jesus had to deal with. Since He dealt with it, we will have to deal with it as well.

John 13:16  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

The world may say you're not good enough, but God says you are precious to Him.

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

The world may say you're not pretty/handsome enough, but God loves you for who you are.

1 Samuel 16:7 The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

We have to shield ourselves from the rejection of this world by saying God is enough. Everyone in this world may say you're not smart enough, but God says you are. That all that matters. When it comes to God, the majority doesn't rule. He rules.

God doesn't look at us the way the world does. Sometimes we get so used to the way we are evaluated here on earth, that we think God views us the same way. God sees our efforts, and most of all He sees who we are going to be.

The world only gets a snapshot of who we are now. I feel sorry for those who looked at you and sized you up to be a failure! God is our security. As long as we focus on Him, we have a guarantee that we will be somebody. Now granted, His definition of a somebody may differ from yours. But you have to trust that He has your best interest at heart. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Looking at things from the other end, this is why we have to be careful with our assumptions about others. Especially when it comes to dating! I've heard women of God say they want a man of God, but he has to be making good money. On the other end, I've heard men of God say they want a woman of God, but she has to look a certain way. Now your standards are your standards, but make sure you are not settling for less. Ladies you can have a man of God who is a janitor today, but has a promise behind him that guarantees he will be a king someday. As long as he has his heart on Jesus Christ, you have a security that you will be ok. For men, there may be women who look great today, but like a beautiful flower, she will wither tomorrow. You never know! God has seen your future wife grow up, and He also knows what she will look like in the future. So if He says that's your wife, then trust Him! He knows what will satisfy your standards for a lifetime and not just a moment.

So zooming back out to the bigger picture, keep trusting God. I know it's hard. You may not be where you want to be now, but we serve a God who is working full-time to ensure your success. He's not just going to toss you anything sloppy just to pacify you like Satan would. Instead He uses tough love and does what He knows is best for you despite your discomfort in the waiting room. Have faith in God's identity, and His significance. Believe that He is mighty, beautiful, and the creator of every living thing. Now think. If He says you are precious to His sight, then why be discouraged by people who are only on earth for a moment? Through Him you have everlasting life and acceptance. So keep holding onto Him. Your time will come.

Ezekiel 16:4-14 On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. " 'Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, "Live!" I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare. " 'Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. " 'I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.

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Don't beat yourself up!

So you fell. You said something you shouldn't have, or perhaps you've done something you shouldn't have. Maybe you made both of these mistakes and then some! Whatever the case was, know this--if you ask for forgiveness, you will be forgiven.

Don't let Satan convince you otherwise. He is an accuser. After he tempts you and gets you to fall, he turns around and makes you feel like crap for falling. He tells us things like, "oh you have messed up now!"

Then there's Jesus. Through Him we have forgiveness. If we call on the name of Jesus Christ and ask Him to wipe us clean, He will do it--no matter what we did, and no matter how many times we did it. As long as we have breath in our nostrils, then we have a chance to receive forgiveness.

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

I understand. Satan is in your ear, telling you what you said or did isn't forgivable. You think the mistake you made was bad? Try aggressively seeking God's people and murdering them. That's what Paul (previously known as Saul) did. Not only was he forgiven, but God used him to bring many souls to Him. Not to mention he wrote a good amount of the New Testament. Now if God can do that through Paul, imagine what He can do through you?

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

Condemnation leads to more sin

When you make a mistake, ask for forgiveness and move on. God has moved on. You may not forgive yourself, but He does. At the end of the day it's about God and not us. He's the authority in the matter. So when He says He forgives you, then you are forgiven. Finding the ability to trust in the salvation of Jesus Christ is the difference between committing a sin and being stuck in sin.

1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Satan tries to convince you that God is fed up with you. In doing so he causes you to distance yourself from God. You begin to feel so guilty. You're not praising Him like you used to, and you're not spending time with Him. It's no different than when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and ran afterwards to hide from God behind the trees.

Don't hide from God. The more you distance yourself from Him, the closer you are to Satan's grasp. This often leads to more sin because Satan then tells you, "well you already messed up. You might as well..." Then comes the snowball effect. You will be left with even more sins than you began with! But remember: as long as you have life, you have an opportunity for salvation. No matter how many sins you've committed.

Take time to reflect on your progress

For some of you who haven't read my older posts, I admitted I struggled with a pornography addiction. I used to be ashamed and embarrassed by it, but you will be surprised how many people are going through the same things you did. I spent years and years trying to shake it. It was a cycle. Every time I slipped, I would beat myself up. Satan convinced me that I was a failure and I had failed God. So I would distance myself from Him out of guilt and disappointment. As soon as I did that, Satan began to tempt me even more and I fell deeper.

The moment I came back to God, He reminded me of something very important. He showed me that even though I had fell to the temptation, I hadn't fell in the same way that I used to. I started out indulging in pornography and I didn't think anything was wrong with it. I always thought it was embarrassing, but I didn't think it was morally wrong. I simply saw myself as a "hormone" crazed teenager, and teenagers did things like that. So think about the mistake you made. The mere fact that you feel guilty about it shows how you've grown. You are starting to see your sin in the same way God sees it. He is proud of you for that alone.

Then God showed me that I didn't fall nearly as much as I used to. That matters to Him. It shows that we are trying to actively resist. It shows that we aren't just dipping our toes in sin for fun like we used to. Satan has to work harder now to tempt you. Think of it this way. If we have made this much progress, then how can we lose hope that we will completely overcome our obstacles someday? Don't put all of your energy into trying to live a perfect life. Instead focus on trying to have perfect faith. Our faith in Jesus Christ gives us access to God's mercy and grace.

Psalms 92:12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.           

                        

God is love

 

1 Corinthians 4:7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

In these verses Paul defines love. People often refer to this when examining the authenticity of earthy relationships, but when you think about it, these verses also describes God. God is love. Let these verses be your guide when Satan tries to convince you that God is done with you.

 

1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

God is patient. Once you ask Him for forgiveness, He keeps no records of wrongs. So if you messed up, it's ok. Praise God for giving us a chance to be forgiven through His beautiful son Jesus Christ. Run to Him and not away from Him. Only then can you take back what Satan stole from you and move on.

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