Coming To Know Him
“Of course I know Him” I said. “I’ve been going to church my whole life.” Well, if you’re wondering, that was the wrong answer.
Coming To Know Him
When my family moved to Colorado in the 1970’s, I wasn’t looking for Jesus. I was 14 years old and my only thoughts were about girls, cars, sports and making some new friends.
That changed on July 15, 1975. The pastor of my church, Jim Olson, took me out for an Orange Julius at the mall in Aurora, Colorado and I failed at answering his question: “Do you know Jesus?”
“Of course I know Him” I said. “I’ve been going to church my whole life.”
If you’re wondering, that was the wrong answer. Pastor Jim explained to me what it meant to “know” Jesus. I surrendered my life to God and gave my heart to Him. That led me to begin a long journey of seeking to learn more and more about Christ. I had no idea that I was missing so much!
About 12-15 years ago, I heard Alistair Begg clearly describe what had happened to me. He very neatly explained the problem of the American church. He said that every Sunday, 21st century American Christians go to churches to find God and they hear this message: “You’re okay. Don’t worry about it. Come and join with us and we’ll do some nice things for some people, sing some songs and feel good about ourselves together.”
That, my friends, is a message that is found nowhere in the Bible. That is a false gospel. Yet it prevails in our churches everywhere. As a result, millions of people go to church Sunday after Sunday and never hear that they are broken and need to be fixed. The real Gospel which starts with these words: “You are not okay.”
The Gospel of the Bible says: “You are sinful, just like us, and separated from God. You need to turn away from that sin, reject your past and kneel before God in humble repentance. Jesus died to get you to that place on your knees.”
When I heard that Gospel, I was set free from my old life and committed myself to follow and serve Him forever. That led me to Trinity College and Divinity School where I learned what true Christian discipleship was all about.
More on that tomorrow.
