Comfort. Compromise. Christ.

So, December 22nd, 2010, can be defined as the day I changed my life. It's the day when I decided 'enoughs enough,' it's time to start walking the walk. Change is not something that could be classified as easy. In fact, change is never easy. In today's society we're all about comfort and living a comfortable life. Have lots of friends in high school, go to college to get a degree, get a career that makes big bucks because of that degree, get married, have 2.5 children--what could be better? For as long as I can remember, that's what my life goals consisted of. I wanted to be like everybody else and live what should be a pretty happy life. Throughout high school, I've always been greatly involved in my church and youth group; most likely because they were just like me. 'The Christian Kids' who wanted exactly what the world wanted, except they had Jesus and they wouldn't make 'bad choices.'

December 22nd, 2010. Change. What changes do I need to make if I'm already a Christian, and I'm one of those 'good kids'? (Speaking of 'good kids', all it takes to be 'good' is avoiding bad things...our society barely expects anything of us anymore.)  Anyways, it all goes back to being comfortable. Not only are people of the world living comfortably, but I've noticed that Christians are living comfortably as well. We've seemed to grow accumstomed to doing 'just enough' so that we can still call ourselves Christians. We go to church, hang out with our Christians friends, try not to swear too much, blah blah blah. But it's finally clicking for me. We've grown up with this 'idea' of Christ and this 'idea' of what a Christian life should look like, that we aren't really seeing the whole picture...or maybe our only reason for Christ is escape from eternity in hell. The reality of what He did on the cross for us hasn't really sunk in....or at least that's how it would seem. I mean, if we were to really grasp that concept, we wouldn't be keeping that miracle, that sacrifice, to ourselves! There's a whole world out there in need of the perfect savior, but we're too busy keeping Him to ourselves. Why would we ever want to go outside of our little comfort bubble just so that someone else knows about Jesus? The reality of all this makes me somewhat sick.

So here I am, attempting to chase after Christ, fasting from facebook, and for what? I'm reading of the miracles, I'm reading devotions about people who made a 360 change after coming to know Christ....boy do I wish I had such a life-changing experience! I guess my rant is because I personally want to be different, and I want other Christians out there to be different with me. I don't just want them to read this blog and think "huh, good for her. That's a great idea!"  But what is an idea unless we actually apply that idea and put it into practice once in a while?! With nothing else to say, my prayer is that you all would examine your lives, (I'll be doing the same). Did Christ ever really come into your life? If so, how are you different; are you different at all? Are you honoring him in your day-to-day life? Would those around you know that you're a Christian without you even saying that you were? I hope this challenges you. I hope this motivates you beyond a simple idea. Know that I'll be praying for each of you reading this as I go to bed.