Today I am going to attempt to write a blog that I believe to be the single most important information you must know before you die. Sounds dramatic I am sure, but really its good news!! I take a risk at offending some "Christians" and others of faith by blogging this.. but it must be said. If Jesus is in their hearts those of you will know that what I write is truth.
Recently here I have come to understand some interesting things about God and Jesus. How I know, I really cant explain.. its just like I know I know and am in the know.
I have talked to many of friends and family about God, of course there were the talks before I walked that sounded like this.....
" Sure I believe in a God.. I dont think all these rules and traditions really have to be followed out. Nor do I believe that I have to go to church to know God. I think God knows I know him." and " I have faith.. but Im not crazy to think I or any man can walk on water." further " most things in the bible can pretty much be explained one way or another by science, we cant deny that." ~ The believer yet naysayer!
When I first started going to church again as an adult my talks sounded more like this.....
" I'm going to church, and it feels good." plus " Church is a great place to be surrounded by positive energy, and more positive people.. my family can only benefit from this" finally " I go to a church, but I'm not totally convinced. I still have MY own opinions that I think are still very much valid, still its nice to go and talk with others about their views, but I'm not going to just follow what others think... I dont think I can call myself a Christian" ~ The believer yet knowsitallbetta!
Today I sit in confidence of my abilities through Christ and I am fully in "the know". Today I am born a new, I am washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. Today I am REDEEMED! My talks go on and on just like that! No added script given to me through imagination... just proclaimations from the heart!
Still , talking to friends and family and even some fellow church goers I have noticed one very big similarity in quite a few of these people. They don't get it! Some have said they don't get the bible, they don't get the church, they don't know which "religion" is best.. and most importantly... They don't know where THEY FIT IN to all this. Now I don't know exactly what Jesus would say about all this.... but if I could take an educated guess from the heart.. it might sound like this "Ay ay ay!" or if you prefer " Oy vey" .lol.
Seriously though... God has put into my heart this very important message. What God really really wants you to understand above all things.. is he LOVES YOU. What he wants from YOU... is your WHOLE HEART! Jesus wants to LOVE YOU with an abundant never ending kinda love! And He wants you to love HIM above all others.Matthew 22:37 To believe in your heart that Jesus is your Lord and savior!! That He paid the price for all our transgressions. That means ALL. Ok?!
God wants you to understand what Jesus did for us!John 3:16.
Many people, including some of my family, feel like they have to "be right" first in order to start fully loving Jesus and God and calling themselves a "Christian" or going to church. I know cause I did the same. Some of us think... well I am not ready to give this up or that up or believe everything that is in the bible....
Well, ya know what.. I would bet my life, yes you heard right.. my life! That Jesus is saying... THATS OK! Just start by believing in me! Jesus wants to be in your heart! He wants to love you from the inside. All that other stuff, all that mumble jumble is not even enough to compare to what really matters, and that is the LOVE of GOD and the Love for CHRIST JESUS.. He suffered for you so that you may have Mercy and Grace. The best news is you dont have to do anything to gain the kingdom of heaven but ... BELIEVE IT! Wow, tell me that is not amazing!?!
That's not to say that the BIBLE and all its contents aren't important. So my fellow brothers and sisters don't start writing me nasty letters of complaint.lol. The bible contains some of the most important lessons and weapons and super natural gifts that I or anyone on earth has ever seen,there is no denying that in me!
But I say this again, the most important thing you must have is JESUS IN YOUR HEART!
So what does it mean to have Jesus in your heart? It means just that. Only you know whats in your heart of hearts.. only you know who you love most. And God said to love him first and above all others. Actually I have come to understand God is Love ( See "Oh how I love the ,.let me count the ways"). God is the "feeling" of love but its more than a feeling its beyond that, He is LOVE. Think of it like this..whenever in your lifetime you have ever felt that wonderful, unexplained, un-manufactured , non-duplicatable feeling of LOVE... Rejoice my friend cause you just experienced a slice of GOD within you. Cause God is Love! (going to leave it there cause that is a whole different topic that I can write a more intimate blog piece on in the future).
So lets keep on.. Here are some things that JESUS said:
JOHN 3:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Jesus said: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Jesus said: "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17)
Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11).
Jesus said: "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit," (John 13:10).
Jesus said: "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" (John 10:16).
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Now, I could try and give you a brief lamen's explanation on the above bible verses.. but I wont. Because really it all comes down to the heart! I cant say it enough! So hear this...
If you're Catholic or Christian
If you're Protestant or Baptist or Pentecostal or whatchawantstal
If you're Spiritual or Religious
If you're a church goer or not
If you go to a mega church or a small 10 member church
If you understand the Bible or not
If you get the stories in the Bible or not
If you eat pork or not
If you rest on the Sabbath
If you sing along with the church Choir or not
If you partake in the saltine cracker and shot of grape juice Or not
If you confess your sins to a priest or not
If you wear a dress or pants to church
If you grow sideburns, long hair or sport a tiny black cap
If you speak in tongues or not
If you raise your hands while worshiping or not
If you remember to pray at night before bed or not
All that is second place to the number one thing you MUST BELIEVE and DO... and that is LOVE JESUS and BELIEVE He is the messiah that has been sent to us so that we may be forgiven of our sins by His blood shed! He and only He alone is the only one that walked the earth and died for our sins so that we dont have to! THEN He did RISE 3 days later and is the LIVING SAVIOR! Trust in the Living God! Trust in your heart that GOD loves you this much sooo soo much! That he sent Jesus so that we may be saved!!
Most of you may think... You heard all this before. Then I say GREAT!! Now do yourself a favor.. put it in your heart!! Put Jesus there FOREVER!! That is the first most important step to the whole big picture!! All else..ALL ELSE will follow once you turn your heart toward God!! He is right there waiting for you!! He loves you and wants to be number one in your life, cause you are number one in His!! This is the Truth!!!
Seek Him with your whole heart and he will meet you there with an abundant LOVE like you have never known! ~ Deuteronomy 4:29
May the Lord touch you and bless you all your days!
Thank you for reading!