Hazards of living without Christ

Hazard is variously defined. According to Advanced English Dictionary, hazard is a 'source of danger, a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune'. Much of man's hazard is of his own making. Wrong choice of lifestyle ultimately leads to tragic end. I always remember what a relation of mine told me when I visited him many years ago. He sat me down and narrated the aftermaths of his odd past life. He lamented that he had wasted his life on earth. He said that I should learn from his woes. He was the only child singled out of his siblings for formal training in school. He was the only hope of his family but instead of concentrating his efforts on his studies he gave his attention to pleasure and immoral life. At the end of his academic pursuit he could not pass his final examination, however, he got a job. He was later retrenched because he had no certificate to sustain his job. He later came back home to live in his family house. He could not maintain his family and train his children. He lived beggarly and few years later he died miserably. "There is a way that seems right to a man", the Bible warns us, but the end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12). I have never forgotten the advice that relation of mine gave me which has remained a girder if truth supporting my decision for godly lifestyle over many years and it continues to remind me that the most important thing we can ever do is to live for God. It is no secret that failure to live according to the pattern of the word of God leads only to heartache. Wrong choice of lifestyle ultimately leads to tragic ends: The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short " (Proverbs 10:27). 

  "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3). Physical birth is not enough; one must be born again spiritually to enter the kingdom of God. You must have to deal with your sin problem and also conquer your secret sinful lifestyle personally in order to avoid hazardous living. Becoming a Christian involves receiving Jesus Christ into one's life by a direct act of will. Consciously ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life today. "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn not with a physical both resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God Himself." (John 1:12-13).

 People often confuse religious practices with real godliness or sentiment with true spirituality. Mere involvement in Christian activities is not always the true manifestation of genuine salvation experience. In the same vein, physical birth into the most religious family is not a substitute for spiritual birth in Christ. Jesus declared,

   When you are born again, you are adopted into God's family and you become His child and  God becomes your Father in a real and intimate nature which ultimately makes you victorious over the sinful nature. The presence of God's Spirit in you assures you that you belong to God. "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" (Romans 8:9). Once you are a Christian, life becomes meaningful and purposeful. Here is an excellent summary of Christian salvation experience as contained in the first question and answer of Heidelberg catechism (1563) and stated in Disciple's Study Bible (1988): 

   Question: What is your only comfort in life and death?

   Answer: That I belong, body and soul, not to myself but to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil, that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven, not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him (p. 1717). 

   Let us pay attention to the grace that the Lord Hod gives us through our Savior Jesus Christ and live it out deeply in such a way that everyone around us will see Christ in us. Spending time with Christ helps us to know Him intimately and keep our focus on Him. If we are not drawing fresh strength each day from Him we can easily dry up and lose interest in the things of God. Therefore, start the day with Him (personal quiet time, personal devotion or personal covenant time) and end the day with Him. Listen to God as He speaks to you even as you read His word-the Bible. God reveals Himself to us through His word. Everything He wants us to know about Him is already in His word.

   We live and grow in Christ in prayer. The Bible admonishes us to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). God expects us to cultivate the attitude of continuous prayer which entails openness to God in all situations and a practice of talking to Him about all situations. As children of God, our prayer is an intimate conversation with our loving, concerned Father.

   God has also provided an ideal avenue for us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him ----it is fellowship. Sincere and genuine Christians stash in fellowship of true believers. We are not called to go it all alone in our Christian journey. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see that Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). Share your salvation experience with people around you.

   If you want to live a full and meaningful life in this sinful world you have to surrender your life fully and wholeheartedly to Christ to avoid living with regrets. "For I know the plans I have for you, declare the LORD, " plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11). Beloveth, make the decision now; I mean now, because there is no time again. You can see for yourself that when you receive Jesus Christ into your, then, God's plan in accordance with Jeremiah 29:11 becomes real in your life, but if you reject it now, if you reject God's love and purpose for you now I tell the opposite becomes the reality, because automatically the devil's plan will work on you which is: "to steal, and to kill, and to destroy the very you" (John 10:10a). Friend! Be wise, flee sin and self and repent, and bebe converted now! Do it now before its too late.

God bless you.