A Lifelong Journey (Coming Home Part 4)

This is Part 4 of a 4 Part series, Coming Home – An Essay on How to Relate to God.

A lifelong journey

Fifth, and finally, we begin to grow into the new life he has promised us. The Bible refers to this as “maturing in Christ.” The new birth is an act.  Following Christ is a lifelong process.  If we earnestly follow him, we will never be the same.

The believer in Christ becomes wonderfully different.  He learns and grows as a newborn child. He realizes that God himself, who previously seemed beyond his grasp, is really his loving father who desires a close, personal relationship with him. But he is also a righteous God, a God to be revered, and who has established standards by which we are to live.

Through this new relationship, the transformed life emerges. Harmful habits change.  Attitudes, thinking and language move to a whole new level.  Motives are purified.  Selfishness gives way to service.  Relationships with others are restored.  Bitterness, envy, jealousy and hatred diminish as love increases.  Not overnight, but steadily, progressively.  Profound changes are underway.

The new believer desires to get together with others who also have a faith in Christ. Fresh bonds of trust, love and mutual respect are forged. The Bible, God’s own inspired word to us, becomes a close friend, relevant and understandable – a totally reliable point of reference.  We realize God has also given us his Holy Spirit, the indwelling presence of Jesus himself, to be with us the rest of our lives.

But there are also fresh challenges.  Old habits and old associations don’t change easily.  Conflicts arise, within and from the outside.  We realize we are contending with spiritual forces that oppose us.  We doubt.  We may encounter discouragement.

Yet it’s different.  We’re not alone.  The Lord himself is committed to help us on our journey – to guide, instruct, correct, discipline, and encourage us. It’s different because a new foundation has been set in place – and that foundation is faith in Christ. Steadily, progressively, we grow.  Amidst challenges (which we never outgrow), we can be certain about our new bond of friendship with Christ. How wonderful and reassuring are his words to those who follow him: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

In time, the transformed life impacts everything we are and do.  Recall the relationship Adam experienced with God before the fall.  Would not the Lord want to see that kind of fellowship restored, even in our work?  As one business owner commented in an interview with the Harvard Business Review, “I would love to get the workplace as close to the Garden as possible, knowing we can’t.  But I shouldn’t stop trying.” (HBR, Jan-Feb 1999.)

Alan’s story

When I think about the transformed life, I think of Alan, a colleague in our industry. While he was doing well in his professional life, he was really struggling personally.  Setbacks, both at home and at work, had left him discouraged, searching for something more. One of his customers told Alan about the radical change that occurred when he yielded his life to Jesus. Alan listened respectfully, but didn’t see how this applied to him.

One morning during a trade show, Alan and I arranged to meet over breakfast. As Alan poured out his difficulties, I could see that he longed for personal peace. I shared my own story, including my decision to follow Jesus. Right at the breakfast table, Alan took that same bold step I had taken years earlier.  When he did, the change in his countenance was immediate and profound.

Alan and I have stayed in touch, enabling me to see his steady progress. Recently, we celebrated the third anniversary of his coming to Christ – again over breakfast at our annual industry trade show. I saw a man whose life is peaceful, rewarding and purposeful. Though he continues to work through challenges, he knows he’s been transformed, experiencing a joy and freedom he never knew before.

Conclusion

It is no accident that you have received and are reading this essay.  Maybe you’ve been searching for truth.  Or maybe you’ve begun your faith journey but need to solidify basic understandings.  Perhaps you’ve been a long way from home, as I was years ago – uncertain about life’s purpose, its end, about eternity. Wherever you are, the adventure of growing and living in Christ never ends, but that process must be firmly rooted. The essential foundation is the transforming step of coming to Christ that I’ve described here.

The next step is yours. I urge you to rise to the challenge.  If these thoughts and words are a help, please reflect on them, and by God’s grace, act on them.  With all my heart I believe they are your reliable roadmap to the way home.

Would you like to experience the adventure of growing and living in Christ?  Pray the following prayer today, and accept John’s challenge today.

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally.  Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord.  Take control of my life.  Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.  Make me the kind of person you want me to be.  Amen.

2 Responses to “A Lifelong Journey (Coming Home Part 4)”

• Loading comments
• Gilbert says:

  May 4, 2012 at 1:19 am

  Hi first I do believe that this is no incident that i come to this site. Honestly I really want to relate to God deeply, It is my greatest desire to grow in my relationship with Him. I’ve been a Christian since 1990. And yet not until now I am certain that I want more, more than just a title of being a christian. I want to grow in confidence with God’s love. But i just don’t know how, it may seem easy but i just cant figure it out, and maybe you can help me.

• Jamie says:

  May 8, 2012 at 1:01 pm

  You’re right Gilbert, it is no accident that you have visited this site. In fact it is no accident that anything happens in your life. That is because God has a perfect plan for you and He is leading you to fulfill that purpose for which He created you. I think that truth has done the most for me getting beyond just carrying the title of Christian and learning of the deep love that God has for me. Knowing that God has a plan for me motivates me to discover what that plan is. But how can I know the thoughts of God to know what He is planning for me? Paul wrote, “No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” (1Corinthians 2:11-12) So I can know what God has planned for me by listening to His Spirit whom He has given to me. That has really helped me know where to focus my efforts because I know that if I give my attention to the Spirit of God through prayer, Bible reading and fellowship with other followers of Jesus I will hear what He wants me to do and say to accomplish His purposes.

  Part of all of this is also a realization that God’s plan is a specific one. I am called to follow Jesus and Jesus said that everything He did was directed by God the Father (John 5:19) Not only that but Jesus also declared, “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.” (John 12:49) Now that is a specific plan! And as a follower of Jesus I can expect that same kind of specific direction from God as well; “Since we live by the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) The image of walking is perfect because walking consists of putting one foot in front of the other. As soon as you stop doing that you are no longer walking but are standing. Therefore walking by the Spirit is a constant process of looking to Him for our direction in life. As soon as we stop doing that we are no longer walking in the Spirit.

  Practically this means that in every situation of life we have the potential to fulfill the plan of God for us. So we stop and ask for His help to know what His plan is. Our prayer may be as simple as, “Lord show me what You want me to do/say.” God will answer that prayer! Sometimes He will show us through our common sense: you see someone in need and you find a way to serve them. Sometimes He will direct us by stopping us from going in a certain direction. Sometimes He will send someone else to advise us. Sometimes He will bring a verse to our mind that directs us. It could be any number of ways that He directs us but we will know that it is from Him the more we practice walking in the Spirit. Jesus promised, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27) The more that you talk to God in prayer, listen to Him through the Bible and hear about Him from other believers you will sensitize your senses to His leading and directing.

  The amazing part of walking in the Spirit is not only do we follow God’s plan for us but we are in constant communication with Him and our relationship with Him matures and deepens. Just imagine spending a whole day conversing with God about what He wants you to do and say in every situation! What a wonderful way to live!

  Does this make sense Gilbert?

  Lord God I ask that You would help Gilbert to discover how to live beyond just the title of ‘Christian’. Speak to Him about how to walk in the Spirit so that everything he does is in obedience to Your direction. Help him to recognize Your voice and leading in his life and give him the confidence to obey no matter how daunting. Develop his trust in Your provision of wisdom and strength for every situation. Bring people into his life who will help him to live out Your plan and purpose for him. In Jesus’ name amen.