Traveling a different way

On Sunday, I went to my sister's church.  The pastor that spoke was OK. He didn't blow me out of the water and his style wasn't for me, but he said something that really has had me thinking over the last few days.  The sermon was on the wise men who gave the three gifts to Jesus. And here was something I've never thought about before.  The wise men, after meeting Jesus, had to go a different way. Let me say that again, they had to go different way.  (Duh, Katie, I know that. Read the story a thousand times.) Yes, but if you look at it not literally, but metaphorically, after encountering Jesus, their journey changed. They could not return the way they came.  Isn't that so true?  After we invite Jesus to come into our hearts, forgive our sins, and become our Lord, we are never the same. We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). I never thought of the wise men's return journey like that. How extraordinary is that?  Maybe God wrote that part for that point. When we encounter Jesus, when we present our lives and give gifts and sacrifices to Him, we are forever changed.
 And it began to make me think.  After meeting Jesus and seeing the change in your life, why would you want to go back to that sorry person you once were? Why would you walk down that road that is painful and ugly? Unwholesome and unfulfilling? Empty and meaningless?  When we are truly walking with the Lord, we don't want to hold onto past sins, habits, and other things from our life.  But what we generally do is keep one foot in the old life and one in the new. We explore that glory and wonder that God can provide, while still holding onto the familiar things of our past life.  And those familiar things can be detrimental to our lives.  I am guilty of this for sure. I've been a Christian for 12 years and although I can't say for sure I hold onto the sins I had before I became a Christian since it was so long ago and I was so young, I do hold onto things of this world.  I hold onto things I shouldn't.  Because at times, I'm scared of what will happen if I let go. Because I'm scared of the judgment I will face if I admit my failings. Because I'm scared that turning those things over and walking away will be harder than holding onto them. And the truth is, it will be harder. It has been harder.  Walking away from those things is not easy. It isn't fun. But let me tell you, IT IS WORTH IT! Walking away from a sin you have held onto for years, finally giving it truly over to the Lord and leaving it there, walking tall in the forgiveness of the Lord because the weight of sin is now nailed to the cross rather than breaking you. It is worth it.  Admitting you have a problem or admitting a specific thing you need to work on in your life and actually working on it. It is worth it.  Asking for forgiveness and giving sincere apologizes, admitting you are wrong, making amends. It is worth it.  Maybe it isn't a sin or amends needing to happen, maybe it is a way of thinking. Right now, that's what I am realizing for me. It is something in the way I think. And I know I have to change it. It is worth it.  Do it! Just do it! Be a wise man (or woman). Take a journey to the Savior and don't come back the same. It is a journey I have started to make and one I hope to see through. I have made this journey a few times and I know I will make it again, because I am human and I am a sinner.  But I know the way to freedom, to better life, to a closer life with my Father. And if you follow Him, you do too.  If there is something in your life, that is not matching with the Lord's holiness, give it up. What's the worst that could happen? The wise men could have been killed! But asking about the worst thing isn't the right question. Maybe look at it like this. What is the best thing that could happen? You encounter Jesus and never come back the same.  The chance of that success is worth the risk.  You will lose something, but chances are you will gain everything.  It is worth it.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him"
James 1:12

Another pep talk for myself.