Things Sure Look Different from the Other Side

Post Script: The Destination or the Journey?

Generally speaking, we, as humans seem to be primarily concerned with where we are going. Close behind stands our pre occupation with finding the quickest way to reach a given destination. The cluttered route is often chosen over a more scenic route if time is of the essence, as it usually is. We never think of the things we may miss along the way.
Religion often seems to suffer from the same malady. The popular goal of spreading the Gospel message has always been to have the subject reach heaven when he or she dies, as opposed to being condemned to an eternity in hell. Once a conversion has been achieved, the logical choice of the converter is usually to find the next prospect to approach.
In the automobile industry, the motor may be the most important part of a car, but it is the extra amenities that seem to matter more to the car buyer these days. Henry Ford once said, “They can have any color they want as long as it is black.” He may have sold a lot of automobiles in his day, but how successful do you think that sales model would be in our times?
Spiritual lives and transportation have many similarities. The more comfortable the ride, the more the traveler will enjoy the journey to the destination, which in the spiritual realm, has already been determined by conversion. It is what happens after one’s spiritual conversion that prompted me to write two books about this subject over the last 30 years or so. I got the feeling early on in my journey toward, and ultimately with Jesus Christ, that conversion usually is positioned near or at the end of the assembly line, instead of at the beginning of it, where it really belongs.
Added to this mis placement is the fact that a well armed and eager Satan has positioned himself at the end of this assembly line and will do everything in his power to derail all trains that reach his station. It is even more evident to me now than it was when I started my spiritual journey, that what happens, or doesn’t happen, immediately following a believer’s conversion will determine the quality of his or her life moving forward.
One’s post conversion self is the same as his or her pre conversion self. The main difference is that new believers have been given bulls eye targets affixed to their minds and hearts, with Satan, who is not pleased with their decision to believe in and follow Jesus Christ, holding a loaded gun directly pointed at them. Unfortunately, this will continue to be new believers’ burden until God makes His eternal call to them at a future date to be determined.
New converts, if they are lucky, may be sent on their way by a well meaning evangelist with instructions to “find yourself a good Bible teaching church.” This is all well and good only as far as it goes. But the gift that our loving God bestows upon every new believer; the in dwelling Holy Spirit, is the tiny spark that needs to be bellowed into a blazing flame in order to stall Satan’s advances.

The main problem with organized religion is that it is a human creation operated by human beings. It suffers from the same maladies and contradictions that you and I suffer from. Most wars throughout history have been fought either by or over religions, and countless millions of people have been killed in its name. The main characteristic of all religions in this world is that they look either upward (like the better ones do), downward, or outward; instead of looking in the proper direction, which is inward.

Martin Luther once said that “Human beings are like a drunkard riding on a horse. He falls off one side of the horse, only to climb back onto the same horse’s back and fall off the other side.” The more one listens to others early in his or her spiritual journey, the more confused and vulnerable that person can become. The best advice at this point is to let Jesus Christ take the reins. He has been through it all Himself and knows how to handle any situation that may come up.

Now back to the spark I mentioned earlier. God injects that spark into every new believer in His Son Jesus Christ as an individual at the moment of conversion. It is from that point that the final journey begins. I truly believe that the next step involves immersing oneself in God’s Word, and learning to listen to that gentle Voice within, which will point the new believer in the right direction. Jesus died as a Savior, and rose from the dead as the King of a believer’s life, and He is prepared to fill that role if the believer allows it.

Unfortunately, the by- product of this process is the gradual death and ultimate burial of self. A death had to occur to start the redemption process, and another death needs to take place in order to finish it. A merciful God will constantly preside over this journey; no matter how painful it may seem to the subject at times. As we turn various aspects of our sinful natures over to the spark that dwells within us, the more soothing and comfortable the journey to our final destination will become.

I have found all of this to be true as I have walked the path that Jesus Christ chose for me with Him. And the farther I travel on this path, the more convinced I become that the obstacles and the people that I encounter as I make my way along have been placed there by my Lord and Savior to both test and enlighten me.

I was born again approximately two years before beginning my first book; Stepping Out: A New Believers Guide. The five year process of researching and writing that book actually served as a guide to me in cementing my Christian faith. After the book was published I was further mentored and encouraged by my pastor. In my case, the right people seem to come along exactly when I need them.

My second Book; Things Sure Look Different From The Other Side: A Christian’s Perspective, grew out a Bible study I wrote and led at my church. The second part of that book was penned after I left that church because of a severe difference of opinion with a new pastor; a perfect example of how human behavior often creeps into organized religion. Even Jesus Christ seemed inclined to remove Himself from those kinds of potential confrontations during His earthly lifetime.

In conclusion, I am still officially un churched, but my faith In God has been growing day by day. I am in my fifth journey through the Bible, and each one of them has followed a different pattern, many of which have been explained in my two books. One by one, I have been turning my sinful traits and tendencies over to God to handle for and through me. If you would like to follow my path, look for my third book that should be ready for publication soon. It is a condensed Bible that can be read in twelve hours by new believers, or read aloud in public sessions. I hope you will enjoy reading it and that you will benefit from it as much as I did by compiling it. May God bless you all.