‘Tis much easier (on the flesh nature) to float downstream...than it is to take a stand, turn, and then begin to walk upstream against the current. Welcome to the pathway that leads into the kingdom of God.(Acts 14:22)

Jesus made it a point to describe how this path was a ‘narrow’ one that leads to life and that ‘few’ would find it. He also indicated that there was a much broader and wider road that ‘many’ would take, but the outcome this road led to was not good at all, using the word ‘destruction’ to explain what they would face (Matt. 7:13-14). In another place Jesus told those in His company to ‘make every effort to enter through this narrow gate, for many...will seek to enter and not be able’ (Luke 13:24-27).

What I’m sharing here with you is what some might refer to as the ‘small print’ that they rarely read to you when trying to get you to sign up for ‘church’ membership.

I should also add here that I don’t advise pursuing this pathway on your own, or thinking you can do it in your own strength, grit, and determination. Unless you are abiding in Christ (John 15:4-5)...you will only be met with much frustration, discouragement and failure. It is ONLY by His grace...that any of us can truly overcome and enter the kingdom.

And why do I suspect some of you were quick to check in here today to see if maybe the Lord might have ‘taken me out’...or at least ‘sidelined’ me after my post yesterday? ;-)

It’s not the first time I’ve told myself (and the Lord)...’we’re gonna lose a few over this one’, but here I am and welcome back. In case you missed it, I offered up some debatable advice yesterday suggesting that anyone who comes to Jesus these days would do well to first learn to hear, recognize, and then respond to the voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10:27)...before you get in a big hurry to join some local church body. I truly mean that, and I even speak from personal experience as well.  Now if you find a group that resembles the church we read about in those early chapters of the book of Acts, pay them a visit; but good luck finding one. (And I am not here to telling anyone to leave the one you may be currently attending, but the Holy Spirit may lead you to do that at some point)

I shared a week or two ago some of my own personal story and what transpired shortly after I offered up a heartfelt prayer to God and committed my life to ‘following Jesus’. I do often wonder if any of us truly knows what that entails or what we are doing at that moment in time, but God in His goodness is willing to take us at our word and at least begin...the process, which will include ‘calling our hand’ or testing our hearts to see how serious we are (Deut. 8:2; 1 Thess. 2:4; Luke 6:46; Matt. 4:1).

I had shared in that earlier post how within hours of committing my life into His hands, I was confronted with the prospect of having to deal with and face a ‘spiritual enemy’ that the Bible clearly refers to as the ‘devil/Satan’. Talk about being overcome with a wave of second guessing myself and thinking I may have just joined some ‘cult’, I struggled to get past what had to be some fable or myth born from the wild imagination of uneducated people back in medieval days. And then the ‘encounter’ I had where God clearly opened my eyes that night and revealed to me how real this spiritual world of evil and darkness was, and that I would do well to make note of it and not ignore it. It was the very first lesson I learned pertaining to seeking the kingdom of God and it was a lesson I’ve never forgotten (for the most part).

In the days following my 'conversion', I found myself keenly aware that ‘something’ had changed, or was changing in my life. I know I was being drawn to and hungering to read God’s word. This is about as natural as a newborn baby who goes to wanting its mother’s breast in order to feed on her life-sustaining milk (1 Peter 2:1-3). Now that’s not to say one fully grasps and understands everything they are reading...but it is the best and quickest way to become acquainted with the heart and mind of God who has made His word available to us; and don’t get sidetracked with the abundance of other ‘options’ out there to read in place...of His word (my daily postings included).

It's unlikely that any of us have vivid memories as to what our lives underwent in that first year after we were born (naturally)...but when it comes to this spiritual rebirth, one does find themselves learning to navigate through a new way of living and thinking. I remember trying to share with friends and coworkers what was happening to me...and most were amused or humored, but clearly not interested in hearing me ramble on about it. Others seemed puzzled, maybe curious as to what I was trying to convey to them; but I just knew I found myself marching to the beat of a ‘new drummer; especially in those early weeks and months that followed.

I had a close girlfriend at the time as well. Some of you are probably familiar with this part of the story by now, but for those who are not...welcome to the ‘next lesson’ God had lined up for me. She was one of those who really did not know what to make of what was happening to me, but at least would listen... without offering much response. I remember also having a sense that maybe I should start going to church somewhere now that I had become a ‘born again Christian’. For the record, my girlfriend had been raised in the same church denomination as I had, but it wasn’t like we had been heavily indoctrinated in the teachings, or exposed to much ‘Bible’ knowledge. Sure...we were both familiar with the ‘basics’ like the Christmas and Easter stories but it wasn’t as if any of that had made much, if any... impression or impact on either of our lives.

And while she was still trying to understand what was happening to me (it was the ONLY thing I wanted to talk about), she did agree to start visiting an assortment of churches with me on Sundays. That was interesting for me as well, to just sit in in various churches that neither of us had any experience with. Call it shopping through a mall or visiting a food buffet...I just was curious as to what was ‘out there’. But really....how intimidating for any new believer to just go out and ‘find a church’ without knowing what on earth is being taught, or what they are even looking for or needing to find. This went on for 4-5 weeks, and I could tell that nothing was ‘sticking’ with her and it was clear that her and I were not sharing the same enthusiasm for this ‘seeking the kingdom of God’ stuff. Then came a really big ‘test’...and what I often refer to as Lesson # 2 that I had to learn after coming to Jesus. I’ll share that here tomorrow...Lord willing.