I Peter 3:15 tells us to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” This is an interesting challenge. I know what I believe. I know why I believe it. But after four decades of walking with Jesus, explaining it all could take a long time. So, it is necessary to stick to (or at least begin with) the basics.
The basics can be explained in five steps. When I worked with Child Evangelism Fellowship, we used the Wordless Book. It is simply a book with five pages, and a solid color on each page. Each color is used to remind us of something.
Gold – God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us
Black – Our sin (disobedience to God) has separated us from God
Red – God sent His son Jesus to die and pay the penalty for our sins, opening the way for us to return to God
White – If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will live with Him forever in heaven
Green – Until we go to heaven, we are to grow in our relationship with Jesus
It seems like there is so much more, but it all boils down to these five things. If you don’t believe these five things, then you aren’t a Christian.
There are many people in this world who claim to be Christians, but are not. Some people think that just by going to church on Sundays, that makes you a Christian. Keith Green used to say, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger.”
There are some people who do wrong things and claim they are doing them in the name of Jesus. But they are only fooling themselves. There are some who commit murder and other acts of violence, but Jesus never condoned such things. When Peter tried to defend Jesus when He was being arrested, He told Peter to put away his sword.
Then there are those who do wrong things, things they know Christians shouldn’t do, but they do them any way. Once they do them, they regret it. That’s the kind of Christian I am, an imperfect one. I make mistakes, I make wrong choices, and I have to face the consequences, asking forgiveness from the people I have hurt, and from God. The apostle Paul was that kind as well:
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:12-14
Is has been said that Ghandi carried a book of the Bible, the gospel of Luke, with him everywhere he went, but once said, “If Christians acted like Christians, I would be one.” How sad it is as Christians when our failures prevent others from coming to Christ. And yet, even in our imperfections, God is working in our lives and using us to draw others to Him.
God’s desire is for all to become Christians: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9
But the choice is left up to us: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” — Matthew 7:14
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15
I have chosen. It has not always been the easiest path, but it is a path I have never regretted. I have hope, and I know the reason why, and I am prepared to answer for it. My hope gives me a reason to carry on. As the old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
Tags: Beliefs, Christianity, Faith, Wordless Book
