What Is a Christian?
According to the Bible, Christianity costs. And it costs a lot. Wait a second, you may be thinking. I thought salvation was free for the asking.

That’s true. God loves you so much, He offered His own Son to pay the death penalty for your sins. He extends His grace and forgiveness to all who will ask. It’s a gift. But His grace isn’t cheap. It cost Christ everything to pay for your sins, and it will cost you everything to truly become all He wants you to be.

But isn’t a Christian someone who prays a prayer and asks forgiveness? That’s the beginning of Christianity. But placing your faith in Christ requires more than simply reciting words. It’s a commitment to be a follower of Jesus.

When Jesus walked the earth, hundreds gathered and watched the miracles and soaked up the excitement with the crowd. But when His teaching became difficult, most walked away. “Many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’ ” (John 6:60)

Jesus knew that his disciples were complaining, so He asked if they were offended. You see, the true Gospel is offensive. It’s not pretty to think of death on a cross. And it’s not popular teaching to pick up our cross and follow Him to a death call. But it’s precisely by dying that we inherit real LIFE!

When we die to ourselves, our rights, our desires and completely place ourselves in His hands like putty to be stretched and reshaped in His image, we start to experience intimacy with Him.

Hard Stuff
This isn’t the part of Christianity that sells. The part that sells well is a missions trip, packed-out youth events and fun conferences. Fun, laughter, music, popularity—for many that’s what makes following Jesus exciting. But Jesus never promised that.

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (John 6:66).

It’s easy to follow Christ on a missions trip or in a concert. It’s fun to be a Christian when you’re part of a growing youth group and go to an exciting church. But your relationship with Christ has to be more than that. If it’s not, then what happens when all that fades? Or when the teaching becomes difficult? Will you, like Adriana, walk away? Or have you truly died to your own life and are following Christ no matter the cost? This kind of intimate commitment takes His help! You can’t do it on your own, and you won’t do it perfectly. But when you surrender everything to His Lordship, the Holy Spirit can enable you to live how Christ calls you to live. And when you mess up, He is right there to forgive you.

A Big Road and a Really Small Gate
Lots of teens claim to be followers of Christ. Adriana did. And though it’s not up to us to determine who is going to heaven or hell, the Bible is very clear about how a true Christian conducts herself. Am I living in obedience to Christ? Am I following His commands (1 John 2:3-6)? That’s the acid test.

According to the Bible, a lot of people who are now convinced they’re following God will be in for a surprise on Judgment Day. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Wow. That’s pretty strong. And it gets even stronger. “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “ (Matthew 7:22-23).

Here’s my own interpretation: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, we went on missions trips. We led people to you! We brought our friends to Christian concerts and went to big youth events. We belonged to Bible studies and even helped start a Jesus club at school!’ And I’ll tell them that even though they did good things, they never really placed their faith in Me. We never actually had a genuine relationship. They knew a lot about Me, but they never really knew Me.”

So here’s where that big road and really small gate come into play. It’s easy to walk on a wide path. Lots of people walk with you. Big roads are meant for big crowds.

But Jesus is very clear that though many will walk the wide path, it won’t lead to heaven. It will seem like the right road, because it feels good. It will look like the right road, because most everyone else is on it.

But Christ says it’s the narrow road that leads to heaven, and then He goes on to talk about that really small gate. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Just How Small Is Small?
Only a few find it? Wow. That’s tough teaching. That’s hard to swallow. Christianity isn’t as easy as we thought. We can’t sleep through it and coax our way into heaven. Many people who claim to be Christians are simply living however they want to (like Adriana and multitudes in Jesus’ day) and have deceived themselves into believing they’re in love with Christ.

No. According to God’s Word, if we love Jesus, we’ll obey Him (see John 14:21). Back to the narrow gate. The connotation of narrow in this passage really means constricted. We could even say it’s a reallyreallyreallyreally tight squeeze.

Think of a small revolving door. You can’t go through with your entire youth group. You have to walk through alone. And you can’t go through carrying everything you own; you barely have enough room to get through.

That’s the kind of gate Christ is talking about that leads to heaven. We can’t carry our possessions, our rights, our popularity or our desires with us. We walk through alone.

That’s a dying process.

Jesus died to give you eternal life. And though forgiveness is free for the asking, truly living for Him and becoming all He desires for you will cost you everything.

So don’t call yourself a Christian if you’re not willing to live in obedience to Him. It’s a narrow road with a small gate. And it really will cost you everything.

Where’s the Fun?
You’re making Christianity sound so serious, Susie! I believe God is more fun than that.

Great point! God is not only fun, He’s creative and spontaneous as well. He’s loving and gracious, slow to anger and very kind. But if that’s the only part of God you see, you’re not seeing Him in His totality. God is also just, holy and will someday judge in wrath. In fact, when He returns to earth, He’s not coming back as the cuddly baby in a manger or as a lamb willingly being led to slaughter.

He’ll return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and He’ll return in flaming fire ready to judge those who don’t belong to Him (according to the Book of Revelation).

By being a true follower of Christ, you’ll experience all kinds of wonderful things. Check out the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. But that’s only part of the story. In Galatians 2:20, Paul gives us the other side: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

Again, it cost Jesus everything to offer you eternal life. And it will cost you everything to truly live for Him. Have you died yet? If you’re ready to get serious, I’m going to suggest a prayer that can guide you into a deeper relationship with Him. But remember: Anyone can say words. Words themselves count for nothing. It’s the meaning behind them, and what’s going on in your heart that God is interested in.

It’s through dying in Christ that you gain real victory!

Dear Jesus:

I’m ready to get serious. I’m realizing now that following You isn’t simply about youth group or missions or Christian concerts. It’s about giving You everything. So right here right now, I totally surrender to You.

Break me and reshape me in Your image. Release the power of Your Holy Spirit within me and sanctify me wholly. I’m dying today. I die to my friends, my family, my will, my dreams, myself. My commitment to You is “Yes, Lord” to whatever, wherever and whenever.

I’m taking myself off the broad road, and I’m going to walk the narrow path by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even if I walk alone, I’m not going back. I’m placing everything I am and ever hope to be in Your lap so I can walk through the really small gate with absolutely nothing.

In Your name I pray these things, Amen.

Keep Going Strong
The One Year Devos for Teens 2
by Susie Shellenberger
Item code: P00320B

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