When Jesus is our Lord, our perspective on time, resources, career, marriage, and money changes. We want to represent Jesus well in every area of our lives. If we don’t have this desire, then Jesus is not our Lord. Contrary to some popular teaching these days, when you surrender your life to Jesus, everything changes. To make Jesus your Lord is to reject every pleasure and desire we have ever known.
Everything becomes about Jesus. All things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17), not just some things. Life as we have known it ceases to exist. This is why Jesus explains few will enter through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14). Most people will insist on carrying so much stuff from their life before Jesus that they cannot squeeze through the narrow path leading to eternal life.
Too many churches are not preaching the gospel these days. They preach a sanitized, watered-down, social justice, happy life version of Christianity that is no Christianity at all. For this reason, many are being deceived, and this deception is sending them straight to Hell. If the crucifixion of Jesus does not drive you to your knees in anguish, you are probably not a Christian. If His resurrection does not prompt incredible joy to flow from your heart and mouth, I doubt you have ever experienced the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
Today, much of Western Christianity centers on what has been coined as “easy believism”. Just raise your hand or repeat a prayer and you’re golden. Nothing else is required of you. But this teaching is in direct conflict with the Word of God. When Jesus comes into your heart, you die to everything in your past. Who you were is now put to death (Romans 6:6-23). From this point forward, to live is Christ (Galatians 2:19-20). It’s all about Him.
When Jesus takes up residence in our lives, our perspective on everything changes. Convictions we once held dear fall away because what we think no longer matters. We now look at the world through the eyes of Jesus. We care about the things He does and commit to His agenda. Our time now belongs to Him, so the days of mindlessly wasting hours are over. We have a mission and there is no time to waste. Our perspective on money changes because we recognize we are simply stewards of what He entrusts to us. Everything He gives us is to advance his Kingdom. Our perspective on relationships changes because we see all people created in the image of God and worthy of His love. Nothing remains as it was.
If our perspective and desires remain what they have always been, then we have not experienced true conversion. Without a converted heart, we will never see eternity with Jesus. Surrendering to the Lordship of Christ covers every area of our lives. The way we think, speak, and act changes from being self-centered to Christ-centered. Our perspective changes from viewing things with an eye toward our pleasures and opinions to the delights of the King. A soul covered by the blood of Jesus will not look or live like everyone else. It is not an easy path, but it is the only path worth traveling. It is the only way to Jesus and the eternal life He promises to all who believe.