Conversion Perversion
Congratulations! You have made the best decision in your life. You have given the pastor your hand, and the Lord your heart. You are now a part of God’s family. So what’s next?
It’s when this question is not answered, that most new converts walk right out of the church and back to their sinful lives. You said the words, showed up for the first meeting, but somehow your conversion became perverted. It didn’t quite stick. What happened? I’m the right person to answer this question, since it happened to me.
I wanted to change. I wanted to be better. I was tired of being unhappy. So, I gave my life to the Lord. I made the right move by confessing that I needed Jesus in my life; no doubt about that. But, I went to God with my hand out, I needed Him to work miracles in my life and make me all better. I gave Him my laundry list of things I needed fixed.
God, please:
Fix my home
Fix my job
Fix my kids
Fix my bank account
Fix my heart
Fix my marriage
When it didn’t happen for me the way I thought it should, I found myself right back where I started. My conversion process had somehow become perverted. I struggled trying to understand how other people could stick to being saved and I was having such a hard time. Of course the enemy used this opportunity to make me feel like there was something wrong with me and that I quite possibly couldn’t be saved. Wrong! There was something wrong alright, my focus was off. I was so focused on God fixing me that I didn’t first come to the knowledge of who He is. My focus was on changing me, not changing my warped perspective of God. What I’m saying is, my conversion started off on shaky ground because I didn’t first work towards a real relationship with God to learn how to stay converted.
Galatians 4:8-9 NIV Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God–or rather are known by God–how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
The key to maintaining your conversion is to know God; have a relationship with Him. Knowing God doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a process. He wants you to know who He is, intimately. That’s why He made it so clear in the scriptures:
Matthew 6:33 NIV But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Because of sin, we are not able to truly know God on our own. You must get under the teachings of a sent pastor, blow the dust off that Bible and commit to obeying the scriptures.
Proverbs 9:10 NIV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Oftentimes, when we don’t get what we want from God, we walk away from Him feeling that He’s not the answer we needed after all. But that’s not true at all. The key is knowing Him. Knowing Him is loving Him. When you love Him, you keep His commandments (John 14:15).
Yes He can fix the home, job, kids, bank account and everything else. But He first asks that you receive Him and get to know Him before you put your hand out or give Him your honey do list. I think that’s fair.
John 1:12 NIV Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–
So, if you’re having a hard time staying on straight street, check your conversion. Answer the following questions truthfully to review your conversion:
- Think about why you felt the need to get saved. What was happening in your life?
- Did you walk to the altar because you were going through a problem? If yes, that’s fine. Change your focus now to knowing and fearing God.
- Did you get saved to please someone else? If yes, that’s fine, change to just pleasing Jesus now.
- Did you have an immediate need that had to be met? If yes, that’s fine trust God to supply all of your needs in His timing.
- Did you truly desire to have a relationship with God and live a converted life? If no, that’s fine, make God a priority now.
It doesn’t matter why you converted, it’s just awesome that you did. Now do the work to stay converted. Know your heavenly Fatherly so that you can honor and glorify Him the way He deserves.
John 17:3 NIV Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
May the Lord God bless and keep you in His perfect peace. Amen!