“I know who my God and Jesus is, and I go to church!”
It has come to my attention that today many people reference this term but if you listen closely and are truly attentive, the term and concept means two different things for certain folks. The reason I wrote each phrase twice was to give you (my audience) a clear visual of where I was coming from because if you look at reference one, it is standing strong and solid, and the other is leaning and swooning in the wind, each on purpose. 1 John 2:4-6 tells us:
“Whoever says, I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.”
Will this be enough to get us into Heaven? Saying that we know Him and His son Jesus Christ and that we attend church? I can attest and tell you that many people go to church, but church is not in them. And yes, they know God and His son Jesus Christ, but God and Jesus do not know them. We can not have one foot in the church and the other still in the world, we must either choose to serve God or choose to serve mammon. I get it, you may not be ready to fully give up some things in your life…certain aspects of it, so you reference the leaning and swooning quote splitting yourselves to find a compromise and fit both into your lives, while there is the other faction who sacrificed and gave up on their wants and desires a long time ago and chose to put God first in everything they do, referencing the first quote to stand strong and solid. Of course, they may waiver, fold, bend, but with Jesus on their side they overcame their brokenness a long time ago, and they know that when their adversary comes rearing its ugly head, as depression, addiction, stress, financial strain, relationship/marital issues, abuse, and suicidal thoughts they know whom they can call on, they know they have a rock to stand on and a Savior who fights there battles. Now who would not want to serve an awesome God like that?
Remember, God also tells us that in Revelation 3: 15-16, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Jesus would rather his children be either “hot or cold” where the gospel’s concerned, because if we are hot when it comes to Him and His Word it will show God that we are committed and involved deeply to our faith. If we are cold, we will at least be impacted by faith, meaning that we can be changed, but if we are “lukewarm,” we are not entirely resistant no, we have enough knowledge of Christ but will choose to not be fully engaged because we lack real faith. This condition is harder to change than truly converting a non-believer who is fully cold.
I know that when I re-dedicated my life back to Christ seven years ago it saved me and my life. It was the best decision I ever made. Every day afterwards has not been sunshine and rainbows. Who am I kidding? I would be lying to say so because yes, I have had some trials and tribulations, and still do, but I know who fights my battles and who walks with me daily. Jesus holds my yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Stay blessed everybody until next time.
