I Need to Make a Change

Tonight’s bible study brought up some old thoughts to mind, this time in a new way. It also brought tears to my eyes.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
It was always popular but I never understood this verse. I heard different teachings on it but it never really clicked. I mean I got it but didn’t at the same time. To live is Christ… That sentence just doesn’t make sense.

Tonight I got it. I heard it switched out for other things like; To live is money, To live is cars, To live is fame, To live is respect, or photography, or girls, or sex, or marriage, or family, or whatever else. To live is popularity and to die is loss. Put anything you want in place of Christ, and to die is loss. Even good things; Family, friends, others, anything… because everything will one day pass away but the Lord remains forever.

I’ve always wondered what people would say when asked what the most important thing in their life was, and then ask their friends about them separately to see if they would match. I would guess almost every Christian would say Jesus, since anything else would be idolatry (Exodus 20:3), but would the way they spend their time and money agree with that? We all know actions speak louder than words. If I asked you what would you say? What would your friends say? What does your Facebook say? What about me? I have a small snippet on my website that says I’m a Christian… big deal. I can almost guarantee you that my cousins and my friends would say that photography is the most important thing in my life. Before this, I’ve never blogged about anything spiritual. I spend my time building my photography business, on Facebook or Twitter, sending and reading emails, watching TV, how much of it do I spend reading my bible or in prayer? To be transparent; not much, and usually none. If I said Jesus was the most important thing in my life, I’d have to admit that my actions don’t line up with that. Will I continue putting everything I have into my business? If I do, my life will have been for nothing. To live is photography and to die is loss.

Imagine if your friend planned to give you a gift that he put his heart and soul into. He spend MONTHS making this gift come together. When the day comes and he gives it to you, what is your response? What if you weren’t appreciative, and you put the gift on the shelf and continued texting your other friends, how would your friend feel? What about the sacrifice Jesus made? For God so loved the world, he [GAVE] his only son… that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. He GAVE. That is a gift. What is our response? Do we put him on the shelf and continue to live for ourselves? The greater the gift, the greater the response.

I need to make a change. Is anybody with me?

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