Establishing a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ is imperative; there's no bypassing it. According to (John 14:6), no one can attain eternal life without Him. Let's delve deeper into this concept...
We are born as sinners and have lived our lives steeped in sin. Sin veils our paths, distorts our decision-making abilities, and clouds our reasoning with the lies, and corrupt information fed to us by the devil out of our ignorance (Hosea 4:6). When we surrender our lives to Christ, who is the light of the world (John 8:12), He enters our lives with His illuminating light, exposing all the lies the devil has been weaving throughout our entire existence.
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To Further Illustrate,
Let's consider a hypothetical scenario...
It's akin to living in a dark house with an open door for several years. In the darkness, you've grown accustomed to certain areas while avoiding others. Those neglected parts of the house likely harbor creatures such as snakes, spiders, and cockroaches. Due to the darkness, you're unaware of their presence. However, it's a different story for them—they're fully aware of your existence and anticipate your reaction upon discovering them. Consequently, they remain hidden. Then, one day, you decide to light up your house. Imagine the chaos that would ensue in that scenario!
In the above story:
- The light represents Jesus, who brings illumination and exposes the truth.
- The dark house symbolizes our lives and bodies without Jesus, enveloped in spiritual darkness.
- The open door signifies living without the protection of Christ.
- The snakes, spiders, and other creatures represent our sins and the presence of demonic forces in our spiritual state, as each sin is accompanied by a dark force enforcing it.
The evil spirits and demons dwelling in our houses, before the light came to expose them, influenced us to sin because that's the environment in which they thrive (Ephesians 6:12). However, now that the light is penetrating, it's becoming increasingly difficult for them to operate comfortably as they once did. This is why we often find ourselves trapped in a cycle of sin, conviction, and repentance, particularly if we aren't fully committed to fighting for our salvation to its completion, as instructed in (Philippians 2:12). This cycle can lead to stagnation in spiritual growth.
It's also the reason why some people report experiencing nightmares when they pray, which is indeed true (I experience it frequently myself). Others may express reluctance to pray due to their aversion to engaging in spiritual warfare. These nightmares serve as manifestations of the Lord revealing to us the spiritual realities we've been living with, prompting us to deepen our prayers against them as we cleanse our houses "spiritual bodies" by His blood until they are entirely purified. Subsequently, we must seal the door with His protection, which endures only when we obey His commands.
Our Relationship With The Lord Jesus Christ Enables Us To;
- Resist the temptations of the devil.
- Maintain the cleanliness of our houses through His protection.
- Remain informed about the dangers around us through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who serves as our eternal companion in our lives.
- Experiencing a peaceful life.
- Inheriting eternal life.
- Cultivating a friendship with the Lord Himself.
- Being provided for, when wanting something from Him, as written in (John 15:7).
- Accessing blessings that are promised to all children of God.
"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:
- You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. - The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. - Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. - You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out." - (Deuteronomy 28:1-6).
👉How to Build Relationship With The Lord!
It's done throw prayers. It doesn't have to be complicated. Just talk to Him. Tell Him about yourself. Yes, we know He knows what we want to tell Him before we even say it, but say it anyway. Share with Him about your day, stresses, weaknesses, fears, doubts, secrets, anxieties... everything. He's our friend, the best friend anyone could ever have (John 15:14)! That's how I started praying.
It's like building a relationship with a friend here in our physical world. We can't just accidentally meet a person once a day, say "Hi," disappear, and expect to have a strong relationship with them. That's impossible. We need to spend time with them intentionally. To listen to them, to learn about their likes, needs, and all. In this case, we learn about the Lord by reading the Bible, meditating on the word, talking to Him (praying), listening to preachings, and the gospel music (worship and praise songs).
Just like that, and things will work out fine as He promised in (Philippians 1:6), that He Himself will finish the work He started in us. Take note of this..., The Lord Jesus Christ is an anchor. A strong one! He will not waver or change. It's up to us to initiate the contact; then He'll draw closer as promised in the scriptures (James 4:8-10, Zechariah 1:3). He already did His part on the cross, and now it's our turn to do our part by working on our salvation with trembling and fear (Philippians 2:12), until we complete it. Of course, He's always here with/for us! If things get hard, call His name. He promised to be with us till the end of time (Matthew 28:20).
To Sum It Up...
As explored, establishing and nurturing this intimate connection with our Savior is not merely an option but an essential aspect of our spiritual life. Scripture unequivocally emphasizes the centrality of Christ in the attainment of eternal life (John 14:6). Without a personal relationship with Him, we remain adrift in the darkness of sin and spiritual blindness, devoid of the transformative power of His love and grace.
Moreover, the journey of faith is inherently relational, designed for communion and intimacy with our Creator. Just as earthly relationships require time, effort, and investment, so too does our relationship with Christ. Through prayer, study of His Word, and fellowship with other believers, we cultivate a deep and abiding connection with Him, experiencing His presence and guidance in our lives.
The necessity of a personal relationship with Christ extends beyond mere religious adherence; it is the cornerstone of our salvation and the source of abundant life in Him (John 10:10). Without this vital connection, we are left to navigate life's trials and challenges alone, devoid of the comfort, strength, and hope found only in Christ.
In light of these truths, let us embrace the imperative need for a personal relationship with Christ. May we prioritize the cultivation of this intimate connection, seeking His presence, surrendering to His will, and walking in obedience to His commands. In doing so, we discover the profound joy and fulfillment that come from knowing and following our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we conclude, let us heed the words of (Revelation 3:20), where Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." May we open the door of our hearts to Christ, inviting Him to dwell within us and lead us on the journey of faith, now and for all eternity.