In 1942, Winston Churchill made interesting remarks when the British had General Rommel’s Nazi army on the run in Egypt.
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
We think the war is over when a sinner gets saved. Have you noticed that when we share stories of salvation, the stories often end when someone “asks Jesus into their heart”?
But that is not the end of the story.
To paraphrase Churchill, giving your life to Christ is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
That is, giving your life to Christ is the START. Think of it this way: when you are born again, are you born an adult? No. You are a “babe in Christ” according to 1 Corinthians 3:1. Salvation is only the beginning.
Yet most Christians do little more. Are you reading the Word? Studying? Worshipping? Praying? Sharing? Singing? Teaching? Are you growing in Christ? Or are you content to remain in diapers, eating strained carrots and apple sauce forever? “Solid food is for the mature,” Hebrews 5:14.
Salvation—cynically referred to as a “Get Out of Hell Free Card,” or as “Fire Insurance”—is only the BEGINNING. In fact, it is unfortunate we make so much of it. God never called anyone to an isolated, single decision. He calls us to a WHOLE NEW LIFE. Being a disciple is a calling to be different every day—forever. Jesus preached sermons. Do you listen to them? God gave us 66 books. Are you studying them?
“The Christian life is hard work. Christianity involves systematically striving to implement the truths of God’s Word into your life. Spiritual depth and maturity do not come without consistent effort … Jesus knew, even as He was concluding [the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7], that some of His listeners would leave and never apply a word they had heard.”[1]
Is that you? Are you too busy for the Word, or are you working to apply it to every decision you make?
“Jesus said that a man who takes the words of God and builds them into his life is like a wise man who builds his house on a rock” (Henry Blackaby paraphrasing Matthew 7:24). Are you building your house on a solid foundation? Do you “take the words of God and build them into your life”?
Salvation alone was never the point. Jesus does not just want your heart. He wants your WHOLE LIFE! Giving Him your heart is only the beginning.
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[1] Henry and Richard Blackaby, EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY, p351.
Household Words: 