Into the Fire

. . . doesn't mean I'm immune to sin. Doesn't mean I don't make terrible mistakes in conduct and decisions. Doesn't mean I'm not foolish, wicked, mean-spirited, or not addicted to something besides Jesus. At times I'm a lousy human being. At times I struggle with hatred. At times I'm just like you who are unbelievers in the Risen Christ.

The only difference between us is I wholeheartedly regret my poor conduct, repent from my evil ways, and pray that my loving God will forgive me as He promised in 1 John 1:9. I don't sin because I know He will forgive me. I sin because it's my nature to do so just like it's yours.

Just because I'm a Christian doesn't make me always do the right thing and avoid doing the wrong thing. It makes me want to do the right thing. And fight to do the right thing even when my flesh demands in fiendish screams for me to do the wrong thing. Sometimes I succumb to those loud impatient urgings. And I fail. Maybe more often than I succeed, I fail.

Just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I hate homosexuals, but it does mean I think their lifestyles are in outright rebellion to the Word of God which I believe is Truth with a capital T. It also means a lifestyle of fornication, stealing, lying, hating, etcetera, also contrast to the lifestyles God planned for us.

And just because I'm a Christian, it does mean I believe the only way to God and heaven rests in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior who paid the price for our sins on the cross, died, and rose from the grave to insure our ability to reconnect with our Father. He's the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all humanity. That's who I am as a Christian. Totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to counsel me and then step back to leave me with the choice to obey or not.

Just because I'm a Christian, I don't want to do the wrong thing, say the wrong thing, or act like I don't believe what I say I believe. But sometimes I do. And I regret it. I wish you could see Jesus in me always. If you could, you'd know He is who He says He is. Look at Him. I will fail you. Not because I want to but because I'll never be perfect here on earth. Not an excuse but the reason for my failures.

Thank you, God Almighty, for saving my soul through Jesus Christ the Lord.