Because I am human, I am
prideful. My flesh and sinful nature desires all the glory. But because I have
been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me
(Galatians 2:20). All the glory in everything I do goes to Him. This is a truth
that I need to be reminded of daily.
The other day I walked out of the library here on campus and noticed a loud, angry-sounding man. He shouted out a message about a god who was going to rain down punishment upon all the sinners of the world. According to him, we were all going to hell unless we repented. I observed the faces of the students around him and became very distraught. Their expressions were not those of people who were hearing the message of the gospel. No, these were faces filled with disgust. They were annoyed at “preachy Christians” who “shouldn't be allowed on campus.”
Since I was on my way to class, I cannot say whether the message preached was solely of wrath and eternal damnation, but it was the only thing I heard. There was not one word about the infinite grace and love of God. Yes, it is true that God hates sin and cannot be around it because he is holy and just. It is true that hell is a real place. But God is just as full of mercy and grace as he is full of justice and holiness. The miracle of the gospel is that while we were enemies of God, he loved us so much he sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus took our punishment. You and I don't have to pay our debt because Jesus Christ paid it in full. That blows my mind!
As I thought more about the gospel and what this man was preaching, I got angry. (Note: anger is not actually a fruit of the Spirit.) How dare this man come onto my campus? He’s ruining the gospel and Christianity for these students! How am I supposed to start a revival here when people like him are running around? Oh, he makes me mad!
Boom. CONVICTION. The Lord reminded me that it's not about me after all. I am not here at this school for myself. I am not here to save people, because I cannot save people. Only Christ can! The only reason I am here is to glorify Jesus. One of my favorite quotes is from a rapper named KB. It says, “If you forget my name, please remember my Jesus.” I pray every day that this is the cry of my heart. But that is much easier said than done. The world doesn't need more Melanie. It needs more Jesus.
The Bible says that the world will know we are His because of our love for one another (John 13:35). I earnestly pray that people know I am His because of the way I love. I pray that they will come to know who He is because of His love. I am reminded of a quote by Madeline L'Engle: “We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.”
That is the gospel. People shouldn't be scared into salvation. Francis Chan once said, “Lukewarm people don't want to be saved from their sin. They just want to be saved from the penalty of their sin.” I know I often have this mentality.
Jesus is infinitely better than
anything this world has to offer. I don't claim to know all the answers. I
don't claim to be wiser or smarter than anybody. These things God is showing me
are convicting to my heart.
Thank you for reading the
ramblings of a college student. Stay unashamed of the gospel. #116
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21
