Why?

"Why? Why should I follow Christ?"

How many times have we heard that? Here is the real question, why are people asking this question?

1 Corinthians 1:9

"God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to 

His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into 

companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

People don't like being told what they "should" do. We live in a world where people try to live by their own rules, and if you don't agree with them your immediately ignored, blocked out, and labeled. You will find that the reason people don't want to come to Christ is because they are already doing something wrong in their life and trying to escape the feelings of conviction.

What is conviction you ask?

"The word convict is a translation of the Greek word elencho, which means “to convince someone of the truth; to reprove; to accuse, refute, or cross-examine a witness.” The Holy Spirit acts as a prosecuting attorney who exposes evil, reproves evildoers, and convinces people that they need a Savior." (http://www.gotquestions.org/conviction-of-sin.html)

We are each perfectly designed and created by God and because of that it is easy for us to recognize His word and His truth. When someone encounters the truth of God and actively living in sin they immediately start to see things in their life that contradict with the Word.

Psalm 5:4

"For You are not a God Who takes pleasure in wickedness;

neither will the evil [man] so much as dwell 

[temporarily] with you."

The problem is when most people feel the conviction of sin they try to run away from the conviction and thus doing so they are running away from God. Does he come to condemn, to express complete disapproval of us? NO. Our God loves us exactly for who we are and only wants to show us the error of our worldly ways so that we may grow closer to Him and have a better relationship with Him. God in no way wants to sentence us to death or punishment, that's not what He's about, but He does want us to see and be aware that the things we are doing are driving a wedge between us and Him.

So then why do people want to run from Him? To be honest, because we (and by 'we' i mean the church) have not demonstrated the true freedom that comes with following God. There is a misconception out there that to follow the Lord you have to live your life with shackles on, when in reality by following the world you are sentencing yourself to death. 

John 8:31-32

"31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him,

If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and 

live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.

32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

The "Truth" in this verse is the Word of God and the Word of God is health and life to us as well:

Proverbs 4:20-23

"20 My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings, 21 Let them 

not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they 

are life to those who find them , healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep 

and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, 

for out of it flow the springs of life."

Not only does God's Word set us free it also brings health and life to us. It allows us to be a source of health and life and good tidings to those around us by making "springs of life" flow out from us. One of my favorite verses is John 10:10 "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." and when it overflows it flows into the life of those around us.

So why do people ask the question "Why?". Many of you are probably thinking "Because they are scared of conviction and don't want to give up the things of the world.", and you may be right but honestly if you were to ask me its because of what I said earlier. The Church has failed to show the love of Jesus to those around them. We, Christians, need to start showing the world of the love of Christ, and not show them hate and disapproval. 

God is the only one that knows the heart of men, so then why do we try to judge them?