Keep on keeping on!

(Picture created by Caleb & Tim at Wednesday afternoon Bible Study)

       Being a Christian is one of those weird areas where you follow a path which is very different to much of the world around you.

Where other people think of life as just a bunch of coincidences, we believe that God made us & He has a specific plan for our lives. While others think that right & wrong are just determined by whether you get caught doing something, we believe that God gave us a moral radar & we are called to act the right way, even when people aren't watching. And while the world says that the most important person in the world is you, we believe that Jesus Christ is the No.1 & we need to live lives that honour him.

It can be hard to keep on keeping on, especially when those around you are interesting in doing something completely different.

On Friday night, we had a look at 1 John 2:18-27. Here John is handing out advice to the Christians in the 1st Century church. They too had a similar problem. There were people who had come along to church, but didn't really believe that Jesus died for our sins & rose again. Like Wolves in Sheep's clothing, they did all the "churchy" things, but they didn't display any real commitment in their lives & their beliefs.

John reminds us: 

"See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us -- even eternal life." 1 John 2:24-25

Though the world wants us to follow the easy route & follow those around us, God, who is bigger than everyone, and who offers us the best possible gift, eternal life, has a better plan for us. It's not hidden, it doesn't need to be decoded, it just needs to be read!

It's a great challenge & reminder to make sure that what we have heard as Christians remains in us. That means being not only people who come along to youth group, or church, but people who hear the message there & then try & apply it to our lives!

A worthwhile challenge...