A Christian that lives on after accepting Christ as the Lord and savior has no option but to comply to what the Bible teaches. The one who dies immediately after receiving Christ is very lucky because his or her case is closed just then. If you are a Christian but ignore your calling, you may as well forget about going to Heaven because you are a disobedient believer. All that disobey are not of God because to God, obedience is better than sacrifices. Jeremiah 7:3 says, ‘I only gave them this command: ‘Obey me and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do all that I command, and good things will happen to you.’
I get this challenging reality from the Bible and it is not at all my thinking or someone else’s. I will pick just two things that a Christian should be doing on a daily basis.
- Meditate on the word of God. There is no time a Christian has room for movies that do not edify, circular music, idle word discussions and all other time wasters but meditate on God’s word day and night (Joshua 1:8). I know that it sounds impractical but the life of a believer is about trying by all means to do what God wants. Clearly, we all fall short but God sees the heart of the one who truly makes an effort. This means that whenever you get time to be alone, read the Bible, listen to a sermon, revise your Bible study notes, read a Christian book, etc. It is strange for a believer not to at least one verse in a day because the Bible teaches that the word of God is as good as food to the soul (Matthew 4:4).
- Practice the word of God. What is the use studying the Bible if you are not going to benefit from reading it? The Bible has promises that you get when you read it. It also has instructions for making God happy. Even when there are no promises or when they delay coming or are not in a manner we expect, God still expect believers to practice what He teaches. Parents, singles, leaders, employers, fathers, mothers, preachers, and many more groups have specific instructions from the Bible.
Contrary to popular teachings, the life of a Christian is a demanding one. It was not easy for Jesus Christ and all His followers in Bible time, how then can it be easier for believers of our time? I’m not instilling fear on you but there is no use doing less than what is required. If you do less or half heartedly, you run the danger of God’s rejection. This concept is brought about by Jeremiah 48:10 where the Bible says, “A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed! The bloodshed and the sword in this verse talks to the person who withdraws himself or herself when the army of the Lord is attacking.
For example, when Jesus says, ‘ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:19 – 20 (KJV), He means just that. Everyone who claims to be a Christian must make time to fulfill this commandment.
It is critical for believers to observe God’s commandments because just one verse can disqualify a believer from making it to Heaven. Affirmatively, all t’s must be crossed and all dots must be there. I’m not perfect either but I and God knows how much I try. My only hope is that I seek God’s grace every moment I think about my inadequacy before God but then make an effort right from deep in my heart to do what He requires of me. I humbly suggest you do the same.
Take time with the Lord and He will direct your paths. Be blessed.