Romans 1:16-17 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”  NKJV

            I am unashamedly a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and a Christian.  I have not ‘seen’ heaven I have ‘experienced’ it.  My life was totally transformed when I acknowledged Him, confessed my sins in repentance, and by faith received His offer of redemption.  I have known people in the public or secular world who wanted to keep their Christianity a secret.  Some explained to me that they did so primarily thinking that if they did something unbecoming it would not have a negative impact upon Christianity.  I can hardly comprehend that approach and it seems to me it is one that presupposes moral or spiritual failure.  When I think of that mind-set I recall the words of our Lord in Luke 9:26 – “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” NKJV

             I would never say that one must wear their Christianity on their sleeve and in any way be overbearing.  As I was told early in my Christian walk, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”  I was told that on an occasion when I was being overbearing and trying to use argument and logic convince everyone to accept Christ and Christianity.  A very wise elder in the Lord said that to me and said, “Son, you can plant the seed, others will water it, but only the LORD can give the increase.”  If conviction does not come to their hearts nothing you can do will change them.  I learned to live my faith, be open and honest about it and allow the Holy Spirit to do what He does best in lives.

             I do not see the wind but I see the effects of the wind and know that it is real.  I have not seen heaven with my natural eye but have tasted it in my heart and am fully persuaded of its reality.  I know that when I believed and received Him the Holy Spirit applied the Blood of Jesus to my sinful heart I was CHANGED.  Things so dramatically changed in my life that others took note and would me ask what happened.  I viewed life and people differently than at any time in my life.  I had a peace about my eternity that I had never known before.

             It is not mandatory that you believe ‘everything’ I believe spiritually or in any way but the gospel of Christ has within it the power of God to salvation.  As we receive and are spiritually born again we find that He begins to make Himself known to us day by day and then as we participate and allow Him to live His life through us we move from faith to faith and truly live!  As I consider what Jesus did for me I ask why I would ever contemplate hiding my relationship with Him.  When many were turning away from Jesus He asked His disciples, “Will you also leave?” Peter’s response was, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”

             For me personally it is liberating to be identified as a follower of Jesus Christ.  It is also a continual reminder that I not only represent Him but am to manifest Him in my words as well as my deeds.   So as you go through this day go in the grace and strength of the Lord!  Blessings be upon you abundantly!