Why I Am a Christian

Why am I a Christian? It is not because I am scared of going to hell. Jesus calls hell a place of everlasting punishment, eternal torment, where the worms that eat at your flesh never die and the fire will never be quenched. It is a dark place of unspeakable thirst, extreme pain, and misery - you could not even dream of a place of such horror and pain! It is where sinners and unbelievers will spend eternity without end - no hope, no relief, no rest, no drink, no forgiveness, only unending pain and despair, weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41-42, Luke 6:19-29, Mark 9:42-48). It is the last place I ever, ever want to be! The fear of Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell forever was the beginning of the knowledge of God for me (Proverbs 1:7, Luke 12:4-5). The fear of hell snatched this sleeping sinner out of His stupor and made me scared of offending God. But it is not the primary reason I am a Christian.

It is not because I want to go to heaven. Heaven is described at a place of eternal pleasure. "At His right hand are pleasures forevermore," saith the Scriptures. No more pain, no sadness, no hunger, no heartache, no goodbyes, and no more death (Revelation 21:2-5). God's glory is the light of day and there is no night. Gold covers the streets and gems the doors. Tens of thousands of saints and martyrs and patriarchs will know my name and visit my mansion. I will see Jesus face to face and walk with Him on the golden shores. I can't wait to be there! But it is not the reason I am a Christian.

It is not because I find the life of sin distasteful. Even the Bible admits that sin is pleasurable, and I am daily tempted by it. Jesus was also tempted, just like me, yet he lived a life devoid of sin (Hebrews 4:14-16). In this, He is my example. Temptation pulls, tugs, and entices this mind and flesh, but I need not yield. Jesus makes a way of escape with every single temptation, and by His grace and with His help as my High Priest, I can resist (I Corinthians 10:13; Titus 2:11-14, Hebrews 2:14-18). Through the power of His Word and with the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, I can stay free from sin (Psalm 119:11). I had to die to this carnal mind and this whining flesh in order to become a Christian, and I must remain dead to it in order to stay a Christian (Galatians 6:24, Romans 6:1-23). Do I think it would be enjoyable to get caught up in sin's sway? Sure! That's not the reason I'm a Christian.

It is not because Christianity is the easiest road to take in this life. Flip Benham said something I will never forget: "It is fun to follow Jesus until you know where He's going." I'm sure the disciples enjoyed following the Master, until they found out where He was going. He's going to the cross. He carried my cross so that I could be forgiven, but I have a cross I must carry in order to be a Christian. "If any man will come after Me," Jesus said, "let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it" (Matthew 16:24-25). Jesus promised that His followers would be persecuted, would face tribulation, and would be hated of all men for His name's sake. "Enter ye in at the strait gate," said Jesus, "for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). If I wanted my time on earth to be characterized by comfort and pleasure, I would not have chosen the path that Jesus walked.

I am not a Christian because it is the only way to be truly happy. Jesus said, "Happy are ye" if you do God's will (John 13:17, also James 5:10-11, Proverbs 16:20). "He that keepeth the law, happy is he" (Proverbs 29:18). God's law wasn't prescribed for us to make us miserable, or to limit our potential, but ultimately, to maximize it! He gave us His commandments for our good (Romans 7:12). God wants to bless us! His will is the best way to live, in this life and the next! Ultimately, breaking God's commandments leads to misery in this life, whereas obedience to God leads to lasting joy, peace, and happiness. Do I want lasting happiness in this life and the next? Absolutely! But that is not the main reason I am a Christian.

Well, why am I a Christian? Simply, I am a Christian because I love God. "We love Him because He first loved us" (I John 4:19). His love has captured my heart. Now, the Creator's smile is my motivation. The Lord's approval is my measure of success. After all that I have done to Him, I deserve hell, but He never deserved my sinning and was never worthy of my spite. Even if He were to tell me that He was going to send me to hell forever when I died, I would still spend my remaining days serving Him. He is good, caring, patient, and generous - He is love perfected! He pitied me and stooped down to me to save me from sin and hell, and invited me to be His friend. Jesus was mutilated on a cross of wood just for the chance to bless me by turning me away from my sins (Acts 3:26). "His visage was marred more than any man's" just for the opportunity to bring me into His family (Isaiah 53). By His grace, I will see to it that He receives the reward of His sufferings. Forever and ever, He is worthy of my love and service, and I will give it to Him. I reckon all of my accomplishments and good deeds in this life as dung just to know Him (Philippians 3:5-11). Just to know Him - that is why I am a Christian.

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).