A Rude Awakening

 

Walking away from sin doesn’t just mean not committing it.

It also means not tolerating it.

“You say you’re a good Christian woman—then prove it.”

That was the challenge God placed before me.

Was this the one thing keeping me from Heaven’s gates?

As I went to respond, my heart grew heavy.

My feet weakened.

The shackles of my past began to pull at me.

“Don’t lie,” Jesus cried.

“Do you not know who My Father is?

The Creator of all,

The Knower of good and evil,

The Salvation your heart longs for?”

“But I am a good Christian,” I said.

“Then why,” Jesus asked,

“Does your heart feel heavy when you party?

Why do you stay silent when others drink and get high?

Why do you gossip and call it concern?

Gossip is still sin, even when wrapped in ‘I don’t know…’

But deep down, you do know.

You just don’t care.”

“But I do! I swear I do!”

“‘Thou shall not swear or use my name in vain"

Have you learned nothing from My commandments?

Or are they just optional to you—

Things you pick and choose from, like fashion?

Something to wear one day

And toss aside the next?”

“How dare you,” God cried out.

“But what have I done wrong?

I go to church.

I repent.

I try to stop.

I know I’m not saved by works—

But by grace and by living a godly life.

So what am I missing?

It feels like a multiple-choice question…

But I’ve chosen all the right answers—haven’t I?”

“My child,” God replied,

“You’re right—you’re not saved by works.

And yes, what you’ve done is good.

But tell me—have you truly learned how to pray?”

“Well… I was going to…”

“Right.

So now you’re breaking two commandments:

‘Thou shall not take My name in vain,’

And,

‘Thou shall have no other gods before Me.’

You’ve placed your will, your timing,

And your comfort above Me.”

“I didn’t mean to…”

“I know your heart,” God said gently.

“I know what you mean and what you don’t.

But now I’ve told you—

So now it’s time to change.

Change your soul before it’s too late.

Don’t just bow your head to say grace,

Only asking Me to feed your body.

You need to feed your spirit.

Turn from your wicked ways,

Because when your time comes,

Your understanding of what it means to be saved

Will different and then it will be too late

So that means, my child 

You won’t be saved.”