Basic Christian Apologetics

Things I wish I knew before I became a Christian

1) I had a feeling of constant joy the night after I was a new creation/born again- For me, that represents genuine repentance. Jesus took the penalty for sin—death—and gave me eternal life. And you know what? One sinner's repentance brings joy to heaven. My acne had cleared up, and I was literally always so cheerful. I felt radiant from the inside out.

2) The majority of Christians are aware that they will face persecution, but they are unaware that this persecution might come from inside their own Christian families or even at home - This is particularly important to me because I was raised in a Christian household. When they ought to have been my inspiration, my family has wounded me more than any other group of people. A shame that most Christians are such hypocrites. Should we be defined in this way? Every week, we proudly go to church, but are we living according to the Bible?

3) One day, you'll experience boredom, fatigue, and loneliness- I have been reborn five years ago. In my first year, I was glowing and consistently cheerful. In my second year, I was mocked more than I was insecure, and I felt ashamed. In my third year, I was fired up and hungry for His word, and I learned a lot. In my fourth year, I was similarly motivated and hungry for His word, and I also learned a lot. This year, though, I understood how dependable God has been to me. The fifth year is the toughest; I've never experienced panic attacks; I'm in a dry and perplexing time, and my doubts are keeping me from praying and worshipping. But I really believe that God never gives up on anyone. Even though I can't feel or see it, He is still shaping me and listening to my cries. Sometimes it's so difficult to pray and study the Bible that we must put our flesh to death and let the Holy Spirit empower us.

4) Despite the fact that most people are unprepared, persecution is a reality for Christians.- When I was a kid, I imagined persecution being a middle eastern man pointing a rifle at me and asking if I followed Jesus. Always keep in mind that we must be prepared for any hardships and temptations because the devil never stays silent; instead, he charges at us like a roaring lion. If you resist the devil, he will run from you. When we react instinctively and make things worse, persecution can occur in the most unexpected areas. Ask for strength in prayer, and put on your armour.

5) It's really difficult to love your enemies- There will always be that one person that is extremely difficult to love. Loving someone who shares your interests and is kind to you is simpler than loving someone who doesn't. So how do we truly love God and everyone else with all of our hearts and minds? Do you ever eat ice cream in such a manner? Jesus is what we need; He completely followed the Torah, leading by example despite all the temptations of the flesh.

6) Nobody is gonna listen to you- Nobody likes you, from posts to sermons (only a few true ones). It becomes more lonely when you take the narrow path, but don't lose heart—even if it's only one person—those that chose to stick with you will be the genuine ones. A few people will like, comment, read, and support your content.  The world will find the weird things amusing, but we are committed to spreading the message of eternal life. Keep trying because God put it in your heart to share that message.

7)Waiting times are unpleasant- (I'm having trouble with this season right now) It's challenging to wait for a generation that expects everything to be done instantly, yet God does not adapt to changing social mores. Even though his timing doesn't line up with ours, it is flawless. It is difficult to believe that you have done everything you could to beg God to hear your prayers after you have prayed and cried so much. Keep in mind that God sees everything, including your problems and prayers, as well as things you cannot see. My advice is to simply keep your mind on His promises. Try to recall all the times He has proven Himself trustworthy to you. After all, this is the same God who caused the red sea to part, enabled Gideon to win the battle with only 100 men, defeated Goliath, and did a number of other miraculous things. Soon, I'd like to write a separate chapter about this. Most people give up during this time, but you persevere because God gives you new strength as you wait.

8)Temptation is a real struggle- However, God wants to remind you of His grace toward you. The devil constantly bringing up your past. The people are continuously being reminded by God that it was He who led them out of Egypt. God may not have physically removed you from Egypt, but Egypt can serve as a symbol of your past. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to resist temptations so that you don't give the devil another opportunity to seduce you.

                                                                   ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*     

Did I miss anything, let me know in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: I have been raised in a Christian home and nobody told me these things unless I experienced them myself.

JF_Abraham