Getting saved for the Christian is often considered the be all end all of their religion. While it is true that Christianity is based around being saved, and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that does not mean that the battle is over.
Often when we speak with others about the act of getting saved, we make it sound as though it is a peaceful, easy going life from then on. We paint a picture of roses and wildflowers, and speak of untold peace in our lives. While that is true on the surface, it does not paint the full picture of what a Christian goes through in real life.
Once you are saved, you become a target. A target for people, and a target in particular for the devil. As far as people are concerned, many people will see your salvation as a threat. They will try to test your character as well as your salvation. The devil himself will throw all kinds of trouble in your path to try to shake you from your relationship with God. God is stronger than all if you put your faith in him, and there is a very profound peace that comes from that. But the new Christian does not feel that overnight.
An example of this could be lust. Lust is one of the things that is mentioned in the Ten Commandments, and it means that we are lusting in our heart after someone that we are not married to. It is clearly a sin in the eyes of the Lord and says so in the Bible. As a non-believer, we lust all the time without much thought of it. We are not bound by the Lord or the Bible in any way, so there is nothing to feel guilty about. We have no convictions in that situation. And so we sin.
Once we become saved and understand the Lord and the Bible, we start to feel convictions about those things that are sinful. It is God’s way of leading us to a better, more moral path. So we face these moral battles all the time as a new child in Christ. We should be mindful of this when we accept the Lord into our lives and be ready for those coming storms. Christianity is not always easy.
Though Christianity has its difficulties, the Lord provides us with all the tools necessary to win in the end. Not many people understand that the whole act of being saved is not a symbolic gesture. It is literal in form and it provides for a lifetime of happiness for those that embrace it. That lifetime continues when we pass from this life into our walk and relationship with God.
The key is to be informed and prepared to accept the difficulties inherent to the gift. If you are prepared for the battle on Earth, then the Lord will provide for your spirit. He will give you the strength needed to grow morally. That is the beauty of Christianity to me.
