by Pastor Rich Carlson

In my spiritual journey I have passed through legalism (obedience in order to be saved) and almost into cheap grace (not placing any value at all on obedience). But I am now settled into a comfortable relationship with God—one that does include obedience to Him.

Let me be clear: I am saved only by God’s grace. In response to that gift I choose to live for God. From this choice come two positive results: First, it makes God happy (In 1 Thessalonians 4:1, Paul calls this “living to please God”). Second, living in this way makes me happier in this life as I await eternal life.

What I do does make a difference. God’s Word does describe a specific way of life for Christians. The more I acknowledge this, the more comfortable I become in life. Telling the truth will not get me to heaven quicker, but telling a lie causes all kinds of trouble. Being faithful to my wife doesn’t make God love me more, but unfaithfulness would cause untold pain and heartache. Choosing to fill my mind, my eyes, and my ears with only pure and noble things doesn’t earn me points with God, but allowing my senses to be stimulated with violence, immorality, greed, and pride stifles my understanding of God’s plan for my life. Such choices also have an impact on my relationships with others.

I can’t choose the wrong and expect the right to come from it. I can’t choose bad and expect good to follow. The nature I feed will be the nature that wins. I am free to make choices, but life is also free to provide the consequences of my choices.

Paul was specific when he described to the Thessalonians what “living to please God” means. In this first letter to them, he wrote that it means: being holy, avoiding sexual immorality, learning to control one’s body, not taking advantage of other human beings, leading a quiet life, minding one’s own business, doing honest work. I don’t know how much clearer Paul could make it!

Christianity presents the believer with two goals: becoming a strong and influential person in this life and continuing on as a child of God throughout eternity. I believe Christianity is not highly respected by many people today because there is not enough clear evidence that following Jesus makes a difference.

Half-hearted Christianity gives me just enough Christianity that I am unable to enjoy “the world.” It gives me just enough of the world so that I don’t enjoy being a Christian. For those who choose Christ, obedience isn’t negative. It is part of the package that provides energy and enthusiasm for the journey.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.