As a follow-up to my previous post, I wanted to share another idea that Francis Chan shared in his sermon Why Are We Here? It is the concept that we hear frequently in Evangelical circles: "I've made a decision for Christ."
Chan goes on to explain that last year he "made a decision" to run every single day of the year. Even if it was only 1/2 of a mile, he made the decision to do it. So, on January 1st, he got together with a bunch of friends, and, even though it almost killed him, he ran 4 miles. Fast forward a few months....at that point, he had run a total since January 2nd of about 4 miles all together. He "made a decision," but did it actually change his life? Many people "decide" to follow Christ.....and other than calling themselves a "Christian" after that day, nothing much has changed in their life.
Chan goes on to explain that last year he "made a decision" to run every single day of the year. Even if it was only 1/2 of a mile, he made the decision to do it. So, on January 1st, he got together with a bunch of friends, and, even though it almost killed him, he ran 4 miles. Fast forward a few months....at that point, he had run a total since January 2nd of about 4 miles all together. He "made a decision," but did it actually change his life? Many people "decide" to follow Christ.....and other than calling themselves a "Christian" after that day, nothing much has changed in their life.
I think this goes along with the heresy of "the sinner's prayer." The false teaching that if there is an altar call or "invitation" at church and you repeat a prayer after someone "asking Jesus into your heart" that you are deemed a "Christian" and are on your way to heaven. It doesn't matter that you never had an encounter with God, you never repented from your sins, and you never gave up your life to be under Christ's control.
Folks, an encounter with God is like being hit by a Mac-Truck. You can't have an encounter with the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings and the Lord of lords and remain unchanged!
If you have "made a decision" or prayed a "sinner's prayer" please see if your life has fruit of the evidence that it was a true conversion to Christianity.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ --Matthew 7:21-23
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. --Matthew 7:13-14
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