Pursuing ChristSample

God’s Honour

As a new Christian, I read in the Gospels that my eternal destination had changed from hell to heaven and the quality of my life on earth had begun to change. I also read that if I followed Christ, what I did for His glory would have a lasting impact.

Today, I’m still convinced that choosing to follow Christ was the most important decision I ever made, but it was just the beginning. As Jesus said, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’. I realised that following Christ was making a decision each day to obey God’s Word (with His help) and do what was right.

As a competitive swimmer, I knew that any ‘dead fish’ could be carried along by the current, but it took determination to swim upstream. I was challenged by the dedication of men like Dr Edward Jenner who discovered the vaccination against smallpox. He was ridiculed and criticised by fellow doctors, but he swam against the tide and provided the means to save the world from smallpox.

As I followed Christ, people I knew began to notice the changes in my life. Some made fun, or criticised me, but I would just smile and inwardly forgive them. However, when many of them were in trouble, they came to me for help, and I was privileged to lead them to Christ. As Jesus said, ‘Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me’. In pursuing Christ, I knew I would always be where He was, and that my heavenly Father would honour me for that. There can be nothing better in life and eternity than having God’s honour.

Written by DAVID SMETHURST

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