HOW MUCH DO YOU CARE ABOUT GOD?

For one to be the Christian God would have him/her to be, he has to care. The Christian is concerned about the outcome of all that he does. In our last article we noticed how much God cares about us. He cared so much that He sent Jesus to die for the forgiveness of our sins. He tells us how much He cares in His word and He continues to care by being long-suffering. As we become aware of this it should cause us to search our hearts and ask, “How much do I care about God?”

Do I care enough to become a Christian? While God provided salvation for all men in sending Jesus to die (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-9) not all will be saved because not all care enough to do what is required to obtain forgiveness. John 3:16 says, “that whoever believes in Him” which indicates we must do something. The Hebrew writer said, “…He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” which calls for doing what He tells us to do.
What does the Bible say one must do to be saved? Upon hearing the gospel (Romans 10:17) he must believe (John 3:16; Mark 16:16), repent (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess Him both as Lord and as the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37) and be baptized (1 Peter 3:20-21, Galatians 3:27, etc.). This is the ONLY plan we find the apostles taught and if we care about pleasing God we will obey HIS gospel and not the doctrines of men.

Do I care enough to keep obeying Him? Once one becomes a Christian he cannot quit serving Him. Obeying the gospel is the beginning of a new life COMMITED to serving Him. Romans 12:1-2 tells us to, “…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”. In the next chapter, Paul says, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provisions for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.” (Rom. 13:14). Jesus Himself taught as he was about to ascend to heaven, “Go therefore and make disciples (teach –KJV) of all nations…baptizing them…” AND, “teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) In this passage, Jesus is calling for His apostles to make disciples (devout followers) and He said that it involved an attitude of willingness to obey whatever one learns that he must do. If we care about God as we ought to, we will obey every command we find in His word, even if we do not fully understand why or like it.

Do I care enough to remain faithful to Him? The New Testament clearly teaches that it is where you stand in God’s eyes in the end that counts. The Christian way of life is unto death. Paul spoke of the course he finished in 2 Timothy 4:6-8. He realizes that reward awaits him only because of what he is as he is about to die. Brethren in the church at Smyrna were to, “Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10). Being faithful until death means not only faithfulness until you die, but also a willingness to die for His cause. In Hebrews 10:38 we read, “Now the just shall live by faith. But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in Him”. Peter spoke of the one who turns back to the world as a dog who returns to his own vomit and a sow that has been washed returning to the mire. This comes after saying, “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having know it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” (2 Peter 2:20-22). Jesus Himself said, “No one having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62). If we really care about pleasing God we will REMAIN faithful to Him in all things and at all times.

Do I care what He thinks about what I do? Attitude is everything to the Christian. If the Christian truly cares about God, before he does anything questionable he will consider how it will reflect upon God. When David was exposed by Nathan concerning his sin against Uriah and Bathsheeba, he cried to God, “I have sinned.” (2 Samuel 12:13). Later, expressing his remorse he acknowledged, “Against You, You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.” (Psalm 51:4). Joseph, when cornered by the wife of Potiphar told her, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). John wrote,“Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 3:6). This Christian is ever aware of this fact. If a child has been raised right, when tempted to do that which is wrong his response will be, “I can’t do that because it would hurt my parents.” Such is one who cares about his parents and honors all that they have done for him. Now apply this to our relationship with God. It is a direct parallel.

Do I care enough to tell others about Him? Finally, when one cares about God he will not keep His message for himself. He will tell others about it diligently knowing that is what God wants. In Acts 8:4 when Christians in Judea were persecuted they went, “everywhere preaching the word.” Jesus taught that we are not to hide our light but to place it on a lampstand so that all who are in the house can see. (Matthew 5:13-16). Paul’s mission was to proclaim the gospel to all who would hear. Why did Paul feel this way? Because he knew how much God cared for him and he cared enough in return to spend his life delivering God’s message, even in severe persecutions (cf. Acts 20:17-27).

Truly God cares about us. How much do we care about Him in return? (1 John 4:19) Eternity depends on it!