Why do you follow Jesus?

Yesterday, during our Bible Study time, I challenged my oldest two children to answer this very question.  I said that one day they will be asked it by not only strangers, but also by loved ones too.  Family members and friends and acquaintances, who have not yet come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, will look at their life as Christians and want to know the answer to the big "WHY?!"

"Why do you follow Jesus?"

And I reminded them, that when that time came, they were to be READY and PREPARED with their answer that would not only give information, but hopefully draw that person closer to faith in Jesus themselves.  Because the wrong answer at that time, will most certainly push them away!!  It happens each and every day.

So, I let my children answer, and I just told them to think about, "What has Jesus ever done for you?"

Both of their answers were pretty similar, they each shared of a time when they were spared extreme pain, illness, injury, or even death.  They said, "Jesus saved us in those moments, because He loves us."

And you know what...they were almost right, but not quite.

See, I reminded them that God's love for us is NOT shown by whether or not we have an easy, healthy, pain-free life in this world!  That's not what we should expect out of this life at all.  In fact, we have known people...children even, that have not been protected from all suffering and pain and death in this life.  So, I took that opportunity to remind them of a dear little boy held in our hearts, so that they could think deeper and differently about this concept of God's love being shown in our lives.

"Remember John?"  I asked them, "Do you think God loves John?"

They both said, "Yeah."

"But, if God loves John, then why wasn't he saved from the things he went through as a result of a car wreck?"  I responded.

You could see the wheels clicking and turning in their minds trying to think through that one.  As I told them, the proof of God's love for us is not about healing us or protecting us from harm and bad things--He is capable and DOES do those things for us all at various times in our lives--but His love was ultimately shown for us through Jesus Christ.  He gave His own Son as the SACRIFICE for our sins so that WE could be reconciled back to Him in Heaven.  The whole benefit of the cross is OURS!!

Left on our own, we would all break Hell wide open, because not one of us (even those of us claimed, saved, and redeemed!!) can live up to the standards needed for entrance into the presence of God's glory in Heaven.  Our sin separates us from God!!  It's ONLY through the gift of grace offered through Jesus that we can be made clean and pure and righteous in the sight of our Lord, Savior, and God, and thus reconciled back to the Holy One.

What Jesus did on the cross, He did for every single soul that will accept it!!  He laid His life down for the sake of John, nearly 2000 YEARS before John ever graced this earth, and for all of us too, because of His GREAT and ABUNDANT LOVE FOR US!!  So, though John didn't get a miracle in that particular time of need, we can still have whole and complete assurance of God's love for him, just knowing the truth that the cross was set aside for John as much as it was for any one of us.  And it is for every one of us!!  All we have to do is reach out to the One who offers it freely to us and accept the GRACE that only He can pour out.

So, why do we follow Jesus?  Because Jesus loved us SO MUCH that He gave His own life for our sake, so that we could have eternal life one day in the glory of God in Heaven!

John knows this right now more than I could ever express, and he truly knows more than any of us still on this side of Heaven could ever attest, that the love of God is REAL and TRUE and everything this world has to offer us pales in comparison to what is waiting for us there.  Just cling to Jesus, and know that it will be all worth it one day.  All will be made right, and our days of suffering, sadness, and pain will not last forever.  This is why we follow!  This is what we believe!  And this is the reality that John knows in its awesome fullness today.

Romans 5:2-5(NLT)

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.   And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

John 3:16-17(NLT)

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John 15:13(NIV)

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Carter's Testimony of Salvation

Last night was a pretty big night for our family.  One of those nights that I dream about, and hope and pray for the chance to experience.  Last night my sweet Carter prayed for Jesus to forgive him of his sins.  This moment is so sweet to have the opportunity to share with you all, and I can almost hear the chorus of angels celebrating with us.

Carter is six years old.  Which is pretty young for such a BIG life decision, I know.  The thing you have to understand is that the truth of who Jesus is, and the reality of Heaven has been a huge part of this child's life since before he was even born.  There is just no question in our family about the reality of Jesus, and what He did for us.

The thing we have to wait for is for our kids to come to an understanding of sin, and why we need salvation from it.  And that's a big concept for a young child, and that's why that whole age of accountability thing is in place.  God knows that children have to grow to a certain maturity level to be able to understand the depth of these concepts, and this timing varies with each child.

So, what brought about this big moment last night?

Carter had a moment at dinner that was hard for him.  He deals with a great deal of anxiety...much like his mom.  Social anxiety in particular.  Again...much like his mom.  And he got really embarrassed at a couple of things that were said.

Greg noticed that Carter's shirt was way too big.  So, he looked at the tag, and realized that the shirt was sized big enough to fit our 12 yr old.  So, we laughed about how that ended up in Carter's closet and that he was wearing it without even knowing it was so big.

That really embarrassed him.  He does not like to make mistakes, and really doesn't like it if he feels people are laughing at him. So, this was just a very mortifying moment for him.

Well, very soon after that, he hit his hand down on his plate and not meaning to, made some oranges go flying in the air a little.  Since it was another unexpected and surprising moment for all of us, we laughed again.  But sadly, for him, this was ANOTHER HUGE EMBARRASSMENT!  So, he starts crying because he doesn't like everyone laughing.

I felt for him because I do understand what he feels in moments like this, but I also need him to learn to not be so serious and learn to laugh at himself a little, and not take mistakes so hard.  Because mistakes are inevitable!!

So, that led to a conversation with him later.  I was hugging him, and reminding him how much I loved him, and really making sure he knew that.  And that no mistake he could make would ever change how awesome I thought he was because I loved him because of who he was, not the things he does.

And then I led in with, "And you know who loves you even more than me?"  He looked confused.

I said, "Jesus does.  He loves you even more than me."

This was not an unusual or new statement in our house.  I tell them this truth all of the time, but this time Carter's response was very different than usual.  With a very curious look to his face, he asked, "How does Jesus love me even MORE than you?!"

So, I started telling him the familiar story, but this time I felt the tug of the spirit letting me know that I needed to make sure that this kid REALLY UNDERSTOOD what I was saying.

I explained sin, and how everyone sins.  I let him know that even I have sinned, and gave clear examples of my own sin.  And then I asked him if he had sinned, and had him identify for me ways that he had sinned.  Not so that he would get in trouble, but just so that I would know for sure that he knew what sin was.  So, with some hesitation...because who wants to admit that they do bad things...he finally admitted to his own sins.

Then we went over the impact of sin on our lives.  The fact that no sin is allowed in Heaven.  And since we had both admitted that we had both sinned, what did that mean for us?  Well, it meant, we wouldn't be allowed in Heaven either, and in fact, that the place for sinners is actually Hell, which we know is a place we do NOT want to be.

And that's where the good news of Jesus comes in.  Jesus died because of the sins of all people, and through His sacrifice, WE can be forgiven of these sins.  All we have to do is accept that Jesus is who He claimed to be...the true Son of God, and that He alone has the power to take away our sins, and reconcile us back to God, so that we can one day go to Heaven too.

So, after fully discussing all of this, Carter said, "But, I do believe in Jesus?  So, won't I get to go to Heaven too?"

I said, "Well, you know, there is one way we can know for sure.  All we have to do is ask Him?"

So, I said that he would need to pray a prayer from his heart, that I couldn't pray it for him because Jesus needed to hear it from him, and in that prayer he needed to tell Jesus that he was sorry for sinning, and ask God to forgive him, and just let him know that he really does believe that He is God's son, and that He saved us from sin by dying on the cross.

With that, we both closed our eyes and held hands, and I let Carter pray.  He, being a VERY TIMID little boy, quietly said, "Dear God, I'm sorry that I sinned.  Please forgive me.  Please save me.  I love you, Jesus.  Amen."

And then I gave him a hug, and I said, "You know what?  The bible says that anyone who prays and asks Jesus to forgive them of their sins, will be saved.  So, you just got saved!"  I hugged him and told him I was so proud of him!

Then I let him go play, and he was just giddy.  He was skipping around, and I could tell that a peace had come in his heart too.  An assurance that yes, he does love Jesus, and Jesus has forgiven him from all the sins he's done, and all he may still do.

I still have lots of shepherding to do with him and all of my children, but I am so glad to know they have hearts open to receiving our Lord Jesus Christ.  There is just nothing more important to my heart as a mother.  I have prayed for this day, and so thankful it has come to be.  Just one more child to go now.

We will be setting up time to speak with our Children's Pastor soon, and make sure that he does have a full understanding of what all of this means, and if we all feel he is ready, we will be preparing him for an official baptism so that he can proudly announce to all of the world his faith in Jesus Christ.