More than two billion people identify as Christians, more than any other religion. Many of them are Christian in name only, following familial tradition or citing a membership to a church whose instruction they do not actually follow.
According to the Bible, a child cannot be born a Christian. There has to be some sort of revelation and then acceptance of Christ in their hearts. Going to church out of habit or sense of obligation is meaningless until you realize who Jesus is, what He did for you, and then have Him act on your mind, heart, and soul to become a true follower. You must have an “aha!” moment, be born again, to be considered a true Christian.
Following family guidance, attending Christian schools and churches can provide the direction you need to find the path to Christ. We do not discourage anyone from seeking God by attending services or participating in Christian events.
Many people tell stories of dramatic rescues where they found Christ after accidents, illness, incarceration, or personal loss. They hit rock bottom emotionally, physically and spiritually and found God waiting there for them.
But many more of us will not have a rock-bottom experience. I have seen some tough times, but I have never been in danger of losing my home. I have never been sick enough to think about dying. Losses have always been buffered by expectations of better times to come. My finances have struggled, but I always felt I would crawl out of crises.
What are the odds that God would present himself to me when there are those in more dire straits? I believed in God. I prayed to Jesus. I trusted that everything happened for a reason. Well, God did present Himself to me through one of His greatest miracles- the Bible. Exploring its passages changed my life forever. How does the Bible change people?
First off, let us define the Bible for what it is. It is a record of God’s unfailing Word, the story of God and how His Son came to earth to teach us how to live a proper life before dying in our place, saving us from the fate of our inherited sin. If that is too many words, try this: The Bible is God’s Peace written for you.
Reading it offers insight to life’s issues and dilemmas. It is not just a collection of stories and legends as some would have you think. It is a verifiable history of the life of Jesus and God’s interactions with man that preceded it. Within it, you can find peace and acceptance.
Your personal transformation may not happen in one “born again” moment. God knows what you can handle at what time. Ultimately, you will learn that your relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in your world. Nothing else seems as important as it used to.
My first encounter with the Bible mesmerized me. I couldn’t put it down. I reread it constantly. Every once in a while, something else would click. I thought I was transformed (born again) about five or six times before another revelation made my faith stronger. Ultimately, I fell to the ground in the realization that I was a sinner…and that was okay with Jesus. He had my back and I would be forever faithful to him.
How does the Bible change people? In ways that are sometimes mysterious and miraculous, but always incredibly marvelous. Let it happen to you.