In high school you were in a close setting of people going through
"the same" stuff, and things in common were obvious- age,
status, etc... Not so much in real life. Getting and staying saved can add a challenge to making & keeping friends.
My old friends wanted me to drink, party & stay out all night.
"Have fun, indulge, You only live once"
The thing was
I no longer needed alcohol, adrenaline or sin to have fun. Indulgence
to me became diving into my bible and reading about how much God
loves me.
The common misconception of “YOLO” is lie set forth by the
enemy. We don't live just once- we live twice & I don't want to
die twice.
A physical death can be a reward, but spiritual death is eternal-
that's scary!
"Well how do you even know if heaven or hell
even exist? Won't you feel pretty lame if you die and you wasted a
lifetime of opportunities to do what you REALLY wanted to do?"
I rest assured that I will enojy the next life in my fathers arms, and it will be a life far
better than this one. Faith is being certain of things you cannot
see. Praise the Lord for my Faith, but for the sake
of exploring lets ask this: What If when you die you to come face to
face with the living God, a good who is loving and just, and you realize that your truly wasted a lifetime of
opportunities to get right with him and now too late? What
then?
Needles to say, many of my “friends” left, and that's a good thing.
Bad company can break good habits. I was now a weirdo and a Jesus
freak- and I was OK with it. I made friends with the girls in
church, bible study, school of leadership & the Christian
acquaintances I had previously ignored. You know the bible says when
a person gets saved the angels party in heaven; these people
rejoiced & celebrated me for getting on the right path. Now they embraced me as family.
More than friends, I finally found what I always wanted: brothers
and sisters, In Christ.
Outside of church however, it can be challenging to make and build
friendships with people who don't share your beliefs. While we do
have to go out of comfort zone and witness, the bible is clear as to
whom we are suppose to fellowship with and who not to.
It's not that I won't be there for you if you need me, because I will. If there's nothing I can physically do for you, know that I will pray for you. The problem is that I
can't sit by with my hands tied and watch you happily hop your way to
hell. You will find me annoying & judgmental for speaking up and
hate me or you will tempt me to join you. Remember that I am human
and have a sinful nature, I have to protect myself from my
weaknesses. If you don't want to be saved with me, don't make me
fall.
While it is hard to let go of people we've been through so much
with, it is important that we weed our garden. We can plant seeds, we
can water them, and God shine's his light- but not all people are
called. We don't choose God, God chooses us, and he wants us all to
himself. Don't compromise your salvation!!! Try, try & try- fast,
pray & invite them to Jesus- but learn to recognize when to cut
your loses.
Dare to love & be loved by God, not the world.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Amplified Bible (AMP)
33 Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 The Message (MSG)
14-18 Don’t
become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a
partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war.
Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the
Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up
pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each
of us a temple in whom God lives.
God himself put it this way:
“I’ll live in them, move into them;
I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God.
“Don’t link up with those who will pollute you.
I want you all for myself.
I’ll be a Father to you;
you’ll be sons and daughters to me.”
The Word of the Master, God.
I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God.
“Don’t link up with those who will pollute you.
I want you all for myself.
I’ll be a Father to you;
you’ll be sons and daughters to me.”
The Word of the Master, God.
Wow! That was just what I needed to hear! I was so impressed and wanted to read more from the author and I look over to see who it is and was shocked to see it was you! You spoke right to my heart and lifted my spirits love! Thank you! I'm a Navy wife myself and need to find more friends that share the same beliefs as myself. Seems more and more of my "friends" are dragging me down with their atheist ways and slurs.
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