I'm Saved...Now What...?

This is a question I really wished more people wrestled with. I think way too many people think that salvation is the end. The goal is to get saved. Well, that's just wrong. Salvation is only the beginning! It is where real life starts. Consider this self-admittedly crass example:

A youth purchases a video game. In the video game his mission is to save the world from the evil aliens trying to take over. He spends many hours playing until finally he faces the final boss - the king of the aliens. He beats him and saves the planet. Order is restored and the credits begin to roll.

Here is the question: What did he really accomplish?

Right, absolutely nothing.

In reality, he did zero of consequence. But when he sets that controller down and walks away from the game system...that is when he gets back to reality. That is when he has the chance to really do something.

In the same way, life before Christ is doing little to nothing of true value because only that which is done in Christ will ultimately last. So life before Christ is like playing the video game. You do a lot of work... you may have a lot of fun... and you may save the world from aliens... but in reality, you will not have done much.

Putting the controller down...that is like bowing your knee to Christ, i.e. salvation. Life begins. You are now in reality...and in reality there is much to do. You begin to see that aliens aren't the problem, it is the forces of darkness that war against the things of God. It is a new battle...and more real...and more lasting than the one that was being fought pre-salvation.

In the Christian faith, we must never forget that we are at war. Not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual principalities and strongholds. This means that we are at all times seeking to dispel darkness. Any place where the lordship of Christ has not been enforced is where we are supposed to be. Again, not through physical force, as many in the Muslim world hold to, but through giving truth.

So, a Christian should never be bored. We have more battles than we have time for. Pornography, gangs, suicide, drugs, pre-marital sex, depression, eating disorders, low self-esteem, broken families, homosexuality, and on and on... We have much to do!

When we get lulled into thinking there is no battle, the kingdom of darkness thrives. A false sense of peace is not peace, it is defeat. We are on a mission to extend the kingdom of Christ to all the earth. And it's only a matter of time...

So the real question is this: will you be a part of it or will you just watch it happen from the safety of the sidelines?