Why Be A Christian?

“Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord; Who is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty. So, your enemies will cringe before you. And you will tread upon their high places.”Deuteronomy 33:29

Those words, of course, were written to the people of Israel. In the Christian age today, we might rephrase this verse to read like this: “Who is like you, O Christian, who are saved by the Lord Jesus Christ?”

The life that is lived in Jesus Christ, is lifted before the eyes of the world and it says to the world: “There --- can you beat that?” Can you produce a better life than this?”

This verse in Deuteronomy takes a life that has been redeemed by the blood of Christ, blessed, and made new --- and hold that life high above the crowd --- and challenges the world to produce anything that even comes close to it.

The Christian life calls out to the world --- “Bring out your best, your strongest, your most intelligent --- and you will see how the Christ-redeemed life will make that life of the world become small, insignificant, and unimposing.

In the humblest soul, touched by the blood of Jesus Christ, is something that the world can never achieve; something the world can never duplicate ----

“Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord?”

In what ways does the Christian life beat all the rest?

How is it superior to all lifestyles?

If we can answer these questions, the next question --- Why Be A Christian – will answer itself.

So, today we will look at four (4) ways the Christian life surpasses every other kind of life.

The Christian life is happier than any other.

Do you believe that statement?

To some people the Christian life is too restrictive, it cramps our style; it is more a forbidding life than any other.

A person who is not a Christian may look at the life a Christian friend is living and sees someone who lives a life that seems dull and unsatisfied.

Now, it can be true that some Christians do lack happiness. Their life reflects a lack of spirit and radiance.

When a Christian allows his or her life to show a lack of that radiance, they are betraying the life lived in Jesus.

            There are three great enemies of happiness:

1.  Worry – people – even Christians – worry – they become overwhelmed, overburdened, have no peace in their lives – they are unable to be free from life’s anxious cares.

2.  Boredom – is another enemy of happiness.

The person is plodding along – day after day – without a song in their heart – no praise to God for the joy of being alive – they become indifferent, they are apathetic, bored – all of which leads to destroying any happiness and satisfaction they once had in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

3.  Self-centeredness – Anyone whose life if centered on self is one who never knows any kind of joy or peace. In that person’s mind – he/she is always right, always superior to others, always looking for the faults and shortcomings of others; all that leads to a person who is irritable and constantly complaining.

Those enemies – worry, boredom, and self-centeredness --- are all slain when they are surrendered to Jesus Christ in your life.

Now, in addition to the Christian life surpassing any other in happiness, let’s look at a second way the Christian life surpasses all others.

The Christian life is harder than any other.

Has anyone ever believed that the Christian life is easier than any other?

Here is, I believe, the mindset of many people when they think about someone living the Chrisitan life:

        They think: Anyone can become a Christian.

        It’s Easy: You just don’t do anything. The see Christianity as a religion of DON’TS.

Here is a profound statement:

The world sees religion differently than Jesus does.

1.  The world says: “If you don’t kill, or steal, or break the Golden Rule – that is all that is required of you. The majority of people – in general – can keep the Golden Rule.

BUT – Jesus says: “No! If you have one angry thought, one scornful feeling, one hidden resentment against your brother, you are sinning against God,”

2.  The world says: “If you don’t break the 7^th commandment (no adultery) – your character will remain solid.

But – Jesus says: READ: Matthew 5:27-28: to welcome in your heart – even if it never becomes anything more than a look or a thought – you are sinning against God!”

3.  The world says: “If you do just what you are paid for in this life, if you do just what duty demands, you can feel content.”

But – Jesus says: “I require more than duty from My followers. What about going the extra mile? Are you willing to walk that? If not, you are sinning against God.

4.  And, finally, the bottom line is this:

When Jesus – and His expectations of us – are taken seriously, the Christian life sometimes becomes harder – more difficult - than we expect it to be.

Now, let’s look at another way the Christian life surpasses every other manner of living.

The Christian life is Holier than any other life.

Are you comfortable being known as a person who is “holy”?

Most people don’t want to be known as a holy person.

They may be afraid that they will be seen as a “religious fanatic.”

So, what does “holy” mean?

Originally, the word “holy” meant wholesome, healthy, and inward health.

A holy person had healthy instincts, and healthy emotions; the ability to deal with inner conflicts such as sin – which would destroy spiritual health.

Jesus is often called the Great Physician.

The reason for that is that He is able to produce spiritual health in those who follow Him.

He gives life a new purpose. All focus is on seeking first the Kingdom of God.

 He fills life with a new power which allows us to claim what Paul declares in Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

The Christian person is a holy person and because of this: “Who is like unto you, O people saved by Jesus Christ?”

There is one final way the Christian life surpasses all others and gives us reason to be a Christian.

That is,

The Christian life is more hopeful than any other.

Look at the boundaries of the Christian life, compared to the other religions of the world today:

1.  Life, in every other religion, is limited to this small, imperfect world.

2.  Life in Christ is unlimited --- looking beyond life in this physical world.

The Christian’s hope is not in this world.

1.  “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” ---- 1 Corinthians 15:19

2.  Dust and ashes are not the goal of the Christian.

3.  For those who do not have this hope there will never be a reunion with loved ones.

4.  Because of Jesus eternal death has been defeated for those who believe and are faithful to the end.

Look again at Deuteronomy 33:29 –

“Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord.”

The Christian life is a happier life than any other; it is a harder life than any other; it is a holier life than any other, and, at the end of that life – the Christian life is a hopeful life.

It is vital that we remember --- the Christian life is His life – the very life of Jesus – a life lived in Jesus Christ.

Each of us here is offered the very life in eternity where Jesus reigns forever.

Listen to Him as He offers life to you.