When We “Sign Up” For Christianity…

When we “sign up” for Christianity we must realize what it all entails. It is not all “snips and snails and puppy dog tails”. The prosperity gospel isn’t part of the agreement either, at least not in the monetary sense. True Christianity is being rejected, ridiculed, slandered, and lonely at times. It’s being needed when things go bad, but being abandoned when things are good (get used to it). People don’t want to hear the Gospel message. They don’t want to be fed truth. The world will hate you if you disagree with its message. But take heart, God is good to those who depend on Him, to those that seek Him out. And that, by far, outweighs the adversity, the struggle, the loneliness, the rejection, and the persecution we will face. Knowing God’s faithfulness and goodness are the reward for pursuing Him in this lifetime, is the reward. Eternal life is the greater reward in the life to come. Jeremiah experienced all of these things in his lifetime. The destruction of Jerusalem was one event that ended many people’s hope. It devastated Jeremiah, but it was his faith and close relationship with the Lord, that ultimately won out. Imagine living life with no hope. You’d probably spend your entire life trying to find some, looking in all the wrong places, only to find your journey to be in vain. When we sign up for Christianity, just know it will be a long and arduous journey, filled with ups and downs, and tragedies and triumphs. Peace will be constant, hope will always be staring you through the front windshield of your car, and confidence in God will be the sustaining factor because His presence is the greatest gift. In the end, you will known it’s worth when we get to see God face to face and hear those all encompassing words, “well done, good and faithful servant”. That’s real life. That’s real hope. That’s Christianity.

20 I will never forget this awful time,as I grieve over my loss.21 Yet I still dare to hopewhen I remember this: 22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!His mercies never cease.23 Great is His faithfulness;His mercies begin afresh each morning.24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;therefore, I will hope in Him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on Him,to those who search for Him.26 So it is good to wait quietlyfor salvation from the Lord.27 And it is good for people to submit at an early ageto the yoke of His discipline: 28 Let them sit alone in silencebeneath the Lord’s demands.29 Let them lie face down in the dust,for there may be hope at last.30 Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike themand accept the insults of their enemies. 31 For no one is abandonedby the Lord forever.32 Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion because of the greatness of His unfailing love.33 For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow. 34 If people crush underfoot all the prisoners of the land,35 if they deprive others of their rightsin defiance of the Most High,36 if they twist justice in the courts–doesn’t the Lord see all these things? 37 Who can command things to happen without the Lord’s permission?38 Does not the Most High send both calamity and good?39 Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? 40 Instead, let us test and examine our ways.Let us turn back to the Lord.41 Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven and say,42 “We have sinned and rebelled, and You have not forgiven us.  Lamentations 3:20-42