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If you have gone through my previous write up, "Your only hope of eternity", (if not, kindly go through it now before you continue reading this), you would have gotten the fact that nothing else guarantees your eternity other than 'Christ in you'. And I want to believe that by now it is no more indubitable to you that no matter your level of anointing and/or spiritual gifts in Christianity, if your life is not an abode of Jesus Christ, your hope of eternity is very much in doubt.
Likewise, after reading through that very write up, questions like "How can I be sure Christ is in me; what evidences are the likely indications that truly Christ is in me?" would have probably emanated from within you which you must have been pondering over.
I am trusting the Holy spirit to answer all questions in that direction as you read on.
Like I always emphasize, nothing is more dangerous for a christian than to assume Christ is in him while in reality He is not. Therefore, it is very expedient that we all be sure of our faith.
TOTAL SUBMISSION TO HIS LORDSHIP
Luke 6:46;
Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?
One of the main evidences that Christ has found a place in the life of any individual is total submission to His leadership.
Submitting to Jesus simply means giving away your own way for His own way. It simply means yielding to His own perfect will. That is, forfeiting your imperfect will for His own perfect will.
Christ demands a place in us because He wants to rule us from within. He knows that the issues of life springs forth from our heart. So, He wants to stay in there to direct and control the affairs of our life so that we may actually thread on the right path.
One of the main reasons why Christ had to die and be raised up is that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living (Romans 14:9). He is the great shepherd who knows how best He could nurture His sheep.
Therefore, giving your life to Christ simply means you are giving your totality to Him. And when you do this, you are fully aware that your life no longer belongs to you but to Him, and you are ready to accept whichever way He chooses to lead it. The shepherd determines the movement of his sheep after all.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus Christ called on those who are heavy laden, that He might give them rest. However, we often overlook the next two verses where He made it clear that He has a yoke He wants them to take too. As we yield to His call and come to Him, He takes off our load and gives us another. The only good news is that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
So, in actual sense, when you give your life to Christ, you are relieved of those heavy loads and labour, but you are taking a new yoke upon yourself. Christianity is not yoke-free.
The moment you give your life to Him, you have a yoke of obedience upon you; a yoke of total submission. You have a yoke of slavery to His instructions. I always tell people, the best way to enjoy Christ is to say 'yes', and 'do' all His instructions without questions.
In actual fact, what Christ comes to do in our life is simply to be the Lord. He won't reside where He will be slave to the imperfect ways of man. He is Lord of all!
Why do you call me Lord, Lord when you don't practice what I tell you? That's the question! If He is truly your Lord, He will be the dictator while you will always execute His orders. It's as simple as that.
Perhaps you do not know, when He comes as He has promised, He is coming for those who are under His leadership. I mean those who are under His fold. Those who He has shepherd.
Looking meticulously at that Matthew 7:21-23, you will discover that the first reason Jesus said He will use against some people to deny them of eternity is that He knew them not. Why? This is because such people were not under His leadership.
See, the only way you can be recognised by Christ is to be a sheep under His shepherd.
John 10:14;
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.
Thus, there is no need for assumption. You can be sure He knows you if only you are a sheep under Him.
When you follow Him, he recognizes you. You become His own and He will never deny you.
Now, see what verse 27 says about His sheep.
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me".
His sheep are always obedient to Him. They never question His authority. His sheep will never underrate His supremacy. His sheep always go in His direction. They follow Him without hesitation.
Now, let's read on to verse 28;
"and I will give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand."
This is wonderful! He only recognize His sheep base on their ability to hear His voice and follow Him (His instructions). And the reward for doing that is eternal life.
No wonder, when Peter asked the Lord, what then shall we have now that we have left everything and followed you? Eternal life was part of the answer Jesus gave. (Read Matthew 19:27-29).
Therefore, it becomes apparent that eternity is meant for true followers of Christ. Followers in context of total obedience to Him. Eternity is meant for the sheep under the shepherd of Jesus Christ.
Are you truly a sheep under His shepherd? The answer to that question will tell you if truly Christ has taken His place in you. His place in you is the throne in your heart. Who is enthroned in your heart? The king of your heart is your lord. Is money not the king of your own heart? Was it not the lucrativeness of that business that prompted you into it? Did you asked Jesus about that step you're about to take or you just made the conclusion based on your knowledge and experience? You're a professor after all.
Who makes the decisions and has the final say over everything you find yourself doing; you, flesh, your wife, money, or Christ? Your answer to this question happens to be your lord. If Christ, good for you. But if not, I assure you that you are a sheep outside His fold. A sheep without shepherd.
Remember, verse 16 (John 10) explained that there are other sheep that are not of this fold. There are other sheep who have not reached this level of total submission. They must be brought to this fold for them to hear and do the master's will.
These 'other sheep' are the ones who seem to be identified with the shepherd, but they are outside the fold because they do not hear and follow the shepherd. They do their own will.
If you've not reached that level of total submission to His instructions, you are still a sheep outside the fold; you need to come in now if you really want to make heaven. You may be anointed and be spiritually gifted but still be among 'other sheep'. It is not how big and good looking the sheep appears, it's a matter of total obedience. Indeed, God called you, but were you called to be a Prophet or you decided to lunch into it because of the incentives? When God called you, where were you asked to settle down, is it not in a village? See how you're flourishing in the city while the people God called you to save are perishing in the village. You are a sheep but not in His fold.
Let me tell you this. God's standard is perfection. He requires that you and I must be perfect. However, the truth be told, can any man, in his own strength, be perfect? Capital no. Yet, God demands perfection.
Let me announce to you that perfection is achievable only through Christ. Without Christ in you, you can never ever be perfect. It's absolutely impossible.
The day you start giving Jesus supreme authority over all matters of your life is the day you start your perfection journey. And your perfection becomes complete the day you attain total obedience to Him in all ramifications.
If you are still giving your own skills, knowledge, idea, and plans the upper hand against the matter's dictates, you are still a sheep outside the fold of Christ, and you must come in now so that you may have any hope of eternity.
And if you've not accepted Him as your Lord and personal saviour, I beseech you, accept Him today that you may enjoy the beauty of His leadership.
You need Jesus because of your eternity. Eternity is real, so also is hell. You can't miss the two.
You'll only miss eternity if you don't have Christ in you. And likewise, you can't escape hell if you don't have Christ in you. The focal point is having Christ in you.
There isn't much to do, just repent and confess your sins right now. Ask for the precious blood of Jesus to cleanse you totally. Now, invite Jesus into your heart. Say, Jesus, the Son of God, come into my life. I open the door of my heart to you, come and be enthroned; I surrender my totality to you. Say, thank you Jesus until you begin to feel a joy from within you. It's a joy of salvation, rejoice as you're now a new creation.
Find a Bible believing church within your environment and start worshiping with them. They have more to share with you as regards your new faith. Study your Bible everyday as God is waiting to speak to you personally through His word.
You can as well begin to go for discipleship classes, it will surely help you grow in faith.
Congratulations once again, and I hope to see you in heaven.
You're blessed.
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