It’s a Wonderful Life

If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things pass away, all things become new.  — 2 Corinthians 5:17

So I’m just chilling with my dad on New Year’s Eve watching a 3 piece band rock out some tunes.  They played some Skynrd, some Tom Petty, SRV, and many more.  These guys were probably in their 60’s and you could tell they had been together for a while.  They had guys asking about their equipment (including me), praising their abilities, and just inquiring about their band in general.  You could tell that this was what they lived for.  Somewhere in the middle of it, I saw myself up there in 20 years.  If I had followed my teenage dream of playing music for a living, that most certainly could have and probably would have been me.

I am not trashing that life at all.  There are people that God has called to live that life and are honoring Him while doing it.  That life just isn’t what God had in mind for me, and I almost hate the fact that something in me still gravitates toward it every now and then.  When I pick up my guitar to play a bit, it is ridiculous how many of those old “bar tunes” I still play.  However, as it stands, when I got saved 22 years ago, God changed my heart and made all things new.  Every time I played those songs for people, I just wasn’t happy.  I felt conviction.  That still, small voice in my head would not shut up, and to be honest, I wanted it to go away…until the day I was offered the opportunity.

I will never forget the day God gave me an ultimatum.  He was telling me in my spirit that I was to either follow Him and His leadings, or follow my own wants and desires.  I just knew that if I chose my own way that God was done sending His strong conviction within my heart.  The strength of it was already fading in intensity as the months and years went by.  I knelt by my bed and chose Him.

So, I bring in 2014 by remembering what God has brought me out of and what He has brought me to.  I am becoming very aware of what it means to make an eternal difference.  It would not matter one bit if I played music for the entire world, made millions of dollars, had every kid wanting to be able to play like me, and had all of the fans, groupies and girls that life had to offer.  I would not know the life I have now.  I wouldn’t know what it was like to be crazy in love with one woman the past 14 years.  I wouldn’t know what it even means to love God, love other people, have the presence of God, lead others to Him, point others back to Him, write WMD’s, and starting this Sunday…preach the Word on a weekly basis.  I will be honest with you, I’m a bit nervous and scared, but I know God is with me and that with Him, I cannot fail.

I say all that to say this:  Follow Him in 2014.  Maybe you have been saved for years.  I was saved for a lot of years before I decided to follow Him.  I can guarantee you two things.  First, it will be REALLY difficult when you truly decide in your heart and go for it.  In fact, circumstances for me got worse and I wondered for about 2 years if following God was worth it.  Second, if you stick with it, you will realize that following Jesus is absolutely the most rewarding thing a person can do. There Is nothing like being a new creation in Christ and growing spiritually! It’s just one of those things…you can’t accept another’s word for it; you have to experience it for yourself.

So, I took one more look at those three guys, listened to them play one more song, and walked away.

I never want to go back to my old life.

Happy New Year

Adam