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Alright, whether you saw or not the video... Hello my beautiful family once again! Thank you so much for joining and in case this is your first time here... WELCOME! I definitely hope to see more of you around here. Today's topic: "Do I need to change before coming to Jesus?" is based on questions I've seen posted over media and questions I once asked myself about the reality of a relationship with Jesus. Have you asked yourself that question? If yes, hopefully I can help answer that once and for all.
Without further ado, let's begin :)
"Only changed people can change the world. Start with yourself..." - R. Warren
At an almost subconscious level, all of us, humans, tend to prove ourselves before we ask for anything. We prove we can do higher-level work before asking for a promotion, kids behave well before they ask their parents for candy or a few dollars, couples do nice things for each other before asking for favors... we simply like to have that 'backup statement' that can support the reason why we're asking for "x" thing. It's a good thing, is a natural thing and, after all, is the way the world works. Some to a higher degree, but we all have to "fight" for the things we want; we don't necessarily get what we want but what we deserve. It is no surprise that when it comes to God we tend to have a similar attitude. Many of us somehow feel as if before we approach God, who we see as a distant and powerful being waiting to judge us, we need to meet certain behavior standards. The question is, do we?
Would it be that before we approach Jesus, God, we need to change who we are? Change our behaviors? Dress better and prepare for such an event? Questions like these once circled my mind and I'm sure the mind of many others. The main problem, though, is not asking these types of questions, the main problem is that because we tend to feel unprepared to approach God (obvious thing given our sinful and selfish nature), we often times postpone doing it for "when we're ready". This, is a big problem.
Us and God
We all have sinned, we all are sinners, and when one recognizes the majesty and glory of God, it is impossible not to feel anything but unworthy. Many times I have heard the question: "how can someone so good, perfect, loving and powerful love and want to know about someone like me?"; at its most basic essence, the question is indeed a valid one. Here's the thing, is a valid one only when we look at it from our human-tainted perspective. It is only a valid question when we come from a position that's ignorant towards the nature and character of God. No, I'm not trying to offend AT ALL. I was and still am ignorant, in fact, when it comes to real knowledge and understanding of the character of God, we're all ignorant. None of us here on this planet can understand how God is, thinks and rationalizes because our sin-stained humanity will only allow us to see so far.
It is because we have misconceptions about God's character and because we can't possibly understand how could a being like Him be interested in us that we begin to infuse natural human-behavior into our relationship with God. Many genuinely believe that they, on their own, can 'behave' better and have a better shot at God paying attention to them. I can't point fingers, but I can say I once fell into this trap. I kept doing things wrong and by my own strength I attempted to control myself and bad-impulses just so I could 'feel' worthy of bending my knees and asking God for guidance and forgiveness. Oh how mistaken I was!... and just like me, how mistaken many are. If only...
Fast-forward some years, I am writing this post. I learned some very important lessons along the way and if I could summarize them all in one word... that word would be "trust". [granted... I am still learning] 'Do I need to change before coming to Jesus?'... all that we need to answer that question God has given to us in His word. The evidence is all over the Bible and just in case you want the 'raw' answer so you can move on to read something else, let me share the answer with you. The answer is: NO. You do NOT need to change anything before coming to Jesus. You can come to Him JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. I am not saying this to sound good, I'm saying this because it's the truth. The more you study the Bible and begin to understand His character, the more the statement will resonate with you. So, why do I summarize my learned lessons with the word "trust"? Well... I guess you'll have to keep reading :)
I certainly don't like statements without backup so I'm not going to do that to you. I don't want you to take my word for granted. Let's go ahead and open the Bible...
Bible, God and us.
The Bible says that God is the same, has been the same, and forever will be the same. Since the Bible is God's word and God is true to His word, we can use a simple study approach to answer our question. The idea is simple; we will pick a few study cases and look how the relationship between God and certain biblical characters worked and what happened. We will look at whether God asked these characters to meet certain criteria before a relationship between them could evolve. Considering that God is immutable, by studying these cases and by inference we will be able to answer our main question: "do I need to change before coming to Jesus?"
Abraham
In Genesis 12 we read the very first interaction between God and Abraham (HINT: God talked to Him... no change on Abraham's behalf). If there's one thing we can know about Abraham for sure is that he was a liar and that his faith was not very sharp. He lied about being married several times because he would not believe that God would protect Him. Still, with time God made him the father of nations and of faith.
Moses
The story of Moses, which we can study beginning on Exodus 2, tells us that God approached Moses (**HINT**) and tasked Him with delivering His people from bondage with Egypt (see Exodus 3)... Moses found a million and one excuses to not do the job God asked Him to do. He did not trust that God would make out of Him and God said He would. As we continue to study His life, even after seeing God's wonders and power, we see Moses constantly frustrated and upset because of the people He was leading under the guidance of God to the point where he committed a terrible mistake. Being patient was not necessarily one of his virtues... Still, God made out of Moses a great man who delivered the people of Israel and did wonders in the name of the living God.
Peter (the disciple)
The story of how Jesus approached the disciples and asked them to follow Him (**HINT**) is all over the Gospel books; from Matthew to John. A look at Peter's life while walking with Jesus reveals that Peter was a hot-head, loose on his tongue, upfront, rude... among other things. Still, Jesus made out of Him a man of faith who healed and cast out demons in Jesus' name and eventually died for what he believed in and doing what God has tasked him with.
Paul (the Apostle)
What greater example of God's character and approach towards men than Paul's story? Paul, named Saul before his conversion, was a "christian killer". He murdered and persecuted in the name of the "church". He did terrible things and was on his way to do some more terrible things when Jesus appeared to Him (**HINT**) and called him into his ministry (see Acts 9). At the end, the man who started killing ended up being the greatest minister this world has ever seen. He fought the good fight and died happily trusting that Jesus will return to get him.
We could go on and on reading and talking about examples in the Bible but, hopefully, you now see the trend. (1) Jesus, God, always made the first approach, and (2) character transformation came much later (refer to next section). No wonder why we read in the book of Revelations:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me..." - Revelations 3:10
In every single one of His approaches, not once Jesus made a "conditional approach". All these men were sinners, were men with bad traits and behaviors, still, God took them in and called them into His service JUST THE WAY THEY WERE. Today, just as He called those men, He is calling you (Rev 3:10). He is knocking at the door of your heart. He doesn't want you to try and change yourself before coming to Him, He just wants you to let Him in now... the change comes later on. Life comes and goes in the blink of an eye so please, don't postpone accepting the call. He's eager to take you on a journey with Him like you have not experienced ever in your life.
All this time I've been writing "come to Jesus" when I should've been writing "let Jesus in". He's knocking at your door, He has come for you... now is up to you to let Him in. The question is, will you?
So, if I don't need to change... I just stay the same?
In the previous section we read about how God made the first approach to those men in the Bible, something that He still does today to us all. Then we mentioned that it was not until after those men accepted the call, that their characters saw a transformation beyond their wildest dreams. This is very important to note because the question now could be... "so if I don't need to change, will I just stay the same?"
The question calls for a whole new topic and post, but in short, no. When Jesus enters the heart an automatic, slow but steady character building and transformation process begins. Look at the examples in the Bible we just discussed. All those men were just that... men, sinners... and God made out of them exemplary men who lived to serve God. He can and WILL do the same with you if you let Him in. Change doesn't come because you try to change yourself, change comes because When Jesus enters the heart, the transformation process begins. I want to share with you a quote from the book "Steps to Christ" chapter 2 by Ellen G. White:
It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Job 14:4; Romans 8:7. Education, culture, the exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness. SC 18.1
The Saviour said, “Except a man be born from above,” unless he shall receive a new heart, new desires, purposes, and motives, leading to a new life, “he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3, margin. The idea that it is necessary only to develop the good that exists in man by nature, is a fatal deception. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 3:7. Of Christ it is written, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men”—the only “name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” John 1:4; Acts 4:12. SC 18.2
It is not enough to perceive the loving-kindness of God, to see the benevolence, the fatherly tenderness, of His character. It is not enough to discern the wisdom and justice of His law, to see that it is founded upon the eternal principle of love. Paul the apostle saw all this when he exclaimed, “I consent unto the law that it is good.” “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” But he added, in the bitterness of his soul-anguish and despair, “I am carnal, sold under sin.” Romans 7:16, 12, 14. He longed for the purity, the righteousness, to which in himself he was powerless to attain, and cried out, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24, margin. Such is the cry that has gone up from burdened hearts in all lands and in all ages. To all, there is but one answer, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.
(reference: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/108.52#52 )
The power of TRUE change, comes from Jesus. Let Him in and He will take care of the rest :)
Closing
Everything that needs to be done for you to start a relationship with Jesus has been done by Jesus; all you need to do is let Him in. There is absolutely nothing that you can "change" about you that will make you "more worthy" of Him, you are as worthy as you'll ever be. Jesus loves you and died for us all... regardless of how "good or bad" we are. He is, as He has been, knocking at your door right now. He wants to start and grow a relationship with you, please let Him in. I promise your life will never be the same. Let Him come in and do the transformation in you that you never knew you needed. Today He is calling you and today the door is still open... please let Him in before is too late. (reference post: "History, warnings and the sealing of our destiny")
So, why we can summarize all with the word "trust"? Because His answer is all over the Bible, all we need to do is trust that He is true to His word and immutable.
Jesus loves you. Never forget.
Until next one friend,
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