Just Jesus

As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft [clothing] are in kings' houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.” Mat 11:7-9 NKJV

The question still stands, ‘what did you go out to see?’

Or better stated, 'why did you want to be a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ?'

I grew up in a Christian home and a ministry that preaches the sincere Word of God. However, growing up in that environment, did not make me any more of a believer than a sinner who has never heard of God. In fact, for many years, I felt sheltered, constrained, and held back from having ‘fun’. It wasn’t until I started to reap the wages of sin that I realized I needed Jesus.

Romans 6:23 NKJV says, ‘For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’

And you can reap death without physically dying. Spirits of heaviness, depression, anxiety, worry, chaos, confusion, etc all bring forth death in a person’s life. When those feelings became too much to bear, I turned to the only ‘out’ I knew of. At that time, the primary reason I wanted to be a Christian was because I did not want to go to hell, and I wanted something to make me feel better.

The Bible says that we must repent in order to believe the gospel (Mark 1:15 NKJV) and that there is evidence of true repentance (Matthew 3:8 NKJV).

True repentance brings about a born again experience where a new life is birthed in you by the Spirit of God (John 3:1-21 NKJV).

As that new life is conceived, it comes forth like a little baby. And what do all babies want? Milk

1 Peter 2:2 NKJV says, ‘as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,’

However, back then, I didn’t have an appetite for the Word of God. I really could take it or leave it. I was in school, and it felt cumbersome to try to fit studying my Bible into my schedule with my other studies, so I wasn’t consistent. I had no true desire to learn how to pray or fast.

There was no evidence of a new life, but I was confused and questioned my salvation because I did what I thought I was supposed to do: I said a prayer asking the Lord to save me. I didn’t realize that my motive was not sincere and that being born again meant I was turning to Jesus ALONE. I came with selfish motive. Thinking I would get a better life, prosperity, the relationship I always wanted.

Anything but just Jesus.

After a couple years of ‘salvation’, I became desperate because I could not figure out why I was still dealing with the same situations, feelings, and appetites that I had prior to giving my life to Christ. I began to search for Jesus through studying my Bible in a disciplined fashion. I listened only to praise and worship. I cried out to Him in prayer. Finally, I began to fast, and that’s when barriers started to be broken and that new life was truly birthed.

When God begins to reveal His word to you, deliver you from strongholds, and baptize you with His Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues nothing can take those moments away from you or make you question if He is real or not.

But you just have to want Jesus. Any other desire for self which is idolatry, will keep you circling. You will continue to wonder why your relationship with Him isn’t consistent or why He seems distant. It is because you didn’t turn and come to Jesus. You brought Jesus down to your current situation.

I encourage you to examine yourself. Are you desiring a good life as opposed to a godly life? Does what you think is 'okay' override your obedience to God’s word?

The Bible says that He does not expose and remove every evil way that is in us at one time because we could not take it, but He exposes things and cleanses us little by little so that we can be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to keep the territory in our souls that the devil once had rule over (Exodus 23:29-30). In the example of uprooting a tree, it is easy to cut off branches and limbs (that's giving up easy sins) , but once you get to the stump and the root of a tree, that battle intensifies. Don't compromise, but embrace the chastening. He is doing it because He loves you.

Finally, I leave you with these final questions. Do you really love the Lord Jesus Christ which is expressed by your obedience to His word? Are you willing to lay down everything to have Him alone reign and rule in your life?

Do you want just Jesus?