Life's a Journey. You better bring your walking stick...

Ever since I was little, I was surrounded by Christianity. I grew up in a Christian home, had Christian parents, went to a Christian church, accepted Christ into my heart at age 6, etc. etc.

You get the point.

My life was pretty much as "Christian" as they get.

You know the "I have been a Christian since I can remember" testimony?

Yep. Well, that's me.

Never smoked a day in my life.

Never taken drugs.

Never gotten drunk.

Never had sex.

Yup.

Like I said.

My life has been the epitome of going to church, hanging out with my family and friends, and being a good "Christian" girl.

But,

I am older now.

Life is not all fairytales and gumdrops anymore.

Although, it is very EASY to believe that,

especially being homeschooled and therefore, SHELTERED for the majority of my young life.

And that's ok.

I'm glad I was sheltered.

I'm thankful that I didn't have to see the harsh realities of the world at such a young age.

I'm thankful for my vast knowledge of the scriptures, on account of all the Sunday School and the Bible lessons at home.

I'm thankful that I am blessed beyond measure in all of these areas.

But, all of these things will not get me into heaven.

Let me rephrase that,

They CAN NOT get me into heaven.

Like my dad always says,

"I can't get you into heaven. I can't accept Jesus for you. You have to do that all by yourself."

And it's scary sometimes.

To know that what it all comes down to is really between you and God.

NO ONE can learn about Jesus for you. NO ONE can ask forgiveness for your sins.

NO ONE can accept Jesus into your heart.

Only YOU can do that.

And that is just down right scary.

What if I didn't really mean it?

What if the things I believe aren't all right?

What if I sin RIGHT BEFORE I DIE?

Where will I go?

Will I still be saved?

These are the kinds of questions I ask myself all of the time.

I used to be so afraid when I was younger that maybe I wasn't really saved.

Maybe I still was going to hell, even though I thought I had accepted Jesus.

I was scared.

No, I was terrified.

And all I could do was cry and wonder what did I have to do to be saved.

And you know what.

At that young age, I still hadn't realized it.

I can't do ANYTHING.

I never could have.

It is only by grace that we have been saved THROUGH faith, 

it is not the works that we do,

but it is the GIFT of God,

so that NO MAN can boast.

So.

Like every other Christian, I still have my occasional doubts here and there, 

but I know with everything in me now, that even if I wanted to, I could do nothing to earn my salvation.

Absolutely nothing.

Now,

all Christians come back to this sole constant of Jesus and love, but there are so many beliefs intermingled within different denominations.

Sure, one church believes in free will, another predestination.

One believes in infant baptism, another totally against one.

One in women preachers, another only men...

etc. etc. etc.

So.

Which one is right?

Which one is wrong?

Which denomination has it all put together perfectly?

Well, I would like to say that my denomination does, or that what I believe is FULLY and COMPLETELY the absolute truth.

But honestly, 

I don't know.

You know, the only REAL truth comes from the word of God.

And that is something that I have been trying to grasp for the past few years of my life.

Just because my parents are Presbyterian (technically reformed baptist), does that mean I have to be?

You know it's really funny.

A lot of kids that grow up in the church under one denomination usually stay that denomination their whole lives.

Is it because they have researched and found that doctrine to be true themselves?

Or is it because that is all they have ever known and they are COMFORTABLE there.

See, I think life is a journey.

And as a Christian your spiritual walk is probably the greatest part of your journey.

So make sure you have the tools to really make it home.

Don't settle for something that has been with you your whole life.

Go OUTSIDE the lines. 

Explore.

Find out what you believe and do it ON PURPOSE.

Don't fumble around your whole life trying to settle for something you think you "might just agree with".

Find where you stand, but make it a point to continue searching.

Because ALL of life's a journey.

And it is pretty darn long, so you better bring your walking stick....

Forever His,

Rachel