The Christian Journey

A person begins his/her personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ when he/she becomes a born again Christian. To become a born again Christian is easy, just click on The Time is Now, to say the prayer and get started. Once you've said the prayer (obviously meaning it from the bottom of your heart), your Christian journey begins. The diagram below tries to capture what should happen next.

As a new born baby begins to learn a lot of things and do a lot of things until he/she becomes an adult, so is the Christian journey. When you become a born again Christian, you become a "baby Christian" whose spiritual growth has just begun. It is a learning process – attend a local church, fellowship with other Christians, read the bible, pray, face a few challenges, trials, temptations, learn to trust God completely, share your testimonies with others and become a 'fisher of men' for the kingdom of God. How quickly and strongly you grow depends on you. Your foundation in the Word of God (bible) must be so strong that no whirl wind (storm) can blow you off course. Trust me, the whirl wind (storm) will definitely come – it's all part of the growing up process. The diagram above shows the cycle you need to follow to become a mature Christian, ultimately winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Your growth in Christ should be evidenced by a lot of things, in particular the conviction within your spirit that you are indeed a child of God and doing away with your old way of life i.e. your sinful way of life - "therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

The more you grow in Christ, the more you will begin to exhibit the "Fruits of the Spirit" and have some of the different gifs we have been promised (and given) as believers - "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully" (Romans 12:6-8).

If you do not grow or you remain stagnant, then you need to check yourself and go back to the drawing board which may include re-dedicating your life to Christ and starting all over again.

You cannot simply say you are a Christian without growing and in growth you must live the life of Christ evidenced by the exhibition of the fruits of the spirit. If you go around telling people you are a Christian and the way you live your life is contrary to what you say; you need to repent and align your daily life with that of Christ today. This deceptive way of life will not win any souls for the kingdom of God and may eventually lead you to where you do not want to go. "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:13-15)

By: Adeola Sonola

The "Commissioner"