Nothin' but a big mess.

Did you know that being a Christ follower does not mean you are perfect? Did you know it means you are broken, messed up, pitiful, and in desperate need of a Savior? It might sound dumb, but it is  something that many people don’t realize. 

The only difference between a Christ follower and someone who does not believe, is that we are saved by God’s good grace. I always hear people saying, “Well, I’m not good enough to be in church. I’m screwed up. If you only knew what I’ve done. I’ve messed up way too bad. I couldn’t even forgive myself.” Any of these sound familiar?

It frustrates me at times to be labeled as “Good girl”. “She’s got it all together” or “She’s perfect”. In reality, this is so not true. Sometimes I wish I could show people how often I mess up so that they would grasp the fact that, just because I live a life in Christ, does not mean I don’t have struggles like everyone else.

 Yeah, I mess up- But I am forgiven, therefore there is no room for guilt in my life. Anything good in my life is present only because I have decided to allow Jesus into my heart.

Once upon a time, I was completely broken. I didn’t see a bright future and I didn’t have a hope for my days to get better. Do you understand that I am a sinner in desperate need of a merciful God who forgives me day after day and makes me whole again? We often overlook this simple fact. 

I don’t know how to “do life” on my own, so I have chosen to give my heart completely to the only definite hope in my life. I have given my heart to Jesus, because without him, my life is hopeless. 

I wish people would understand that it’s not about “Going to church” and “Looking like a good Christian”. It’s not about that “feeling” you have after one night of worship. It is about making a legitimate, mindful, and definite decision to dedicate your life to be a world-changer. To do this, you've got to have a relationship with Jesus. 

 Living a life for Christ is a daily struggle that constantly needs TLC. It is a huge responsibility but it is the most rewarding decision you will ever make in your life. It is about daily growing closer to your savior and being on a mission to make this messed up world a better place.

So next time you feel guilty for something, and say, “That church would burn if I walked in there” or “God wouldn’t be able to use me to change this world” , just remember that my closest “Church” friends and I were once broken people who have struggled with drug abuse, jealousy, alcohol abuse, abortion, pre-marital sex, adultery, pornography, and the list goes on. 

We are sinners saved by grace who would not be able to positively influence this world if not for the mercy and forgiveness offered to us by a heavenly father who gives us the wisdom and freedom to move on from our dirty pasts. 

The bible is not something we “have to” read. It is something we desperately need to cling to so that our wicked hearts would not lead us down a destructive path that would do nothing but hurt the people we love the most. 

The bible is a powerful tool created to show us what to do when life gets tough. And it is a daily reminder of how much our father in heaven loves us and wants to use us to make the world a better place. It is not made to condemn us, no. It is made to free us. 

No one can make the decision but you. No one will force you to change your life in order to become the kind of person Christ can use to influence your world. It’s up to you to seek forgiveness. It’s not easy. It takes tons of discipline. It hurts at times and it is difficult. But it is what our future generations need. Will you be a world-changer? Because without the presence of Jesus, our lives are nothin’ but a big mess.

“If there is only one thing that people would remember from my life after I pass, I hope they would say I left it a better place than when I got here.”

(Thanks to Pastor Paul for his great message that pumped me up to write this blog).