Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 16
December 19, 1964
NUMBER 33, PAGE 1,11a

Why You Ought To Be A Christian

Donald R. Givens

What are the reasons for becoming a Christian? Why should everyone be a Christian? For the answer to these questions, may we go to the Bible?

The life of a Christian is not a "bed of roses" or a life of comfort, ease and luxury. But it is the greatest life one can live. Perhaps one may wonder why it is the supreme life in face of all the suffering one may have to endure as a Christian. Let us take Moses as an example. Of course Moses was not a Christian since he lived under the Old Law, but he is a splendid example of why one should live the life of a Christian today. Hebrews 11:24-26 vividly explains how Moses chose to suffer with the people of God rather than enjoy the "pleasures of sin for a season." Moses accounted the treasures of Egypt worthless and took instead the reproach of others among the children of God. Why? Why did Moses do this? When we answer this we shall have answered why the individual today becomes a Christian and suffers for Jesus. The latter part of verse 26 is our answer: "for he looked unto the recompense of reward." Yes, Moses chose to suffer as a child of God because he saw the END RESULT of this life of righteousness compared with the end result of the Pleasurable life of sin.

It is the same today. Individuals become Christians because they can look to the end result of this life contrasted with the end result of a life of sin. At the end .of the road for the Christian, eternal bliss and joy await; but at the end of the journey for the wicked, remorse, tears and sorrow in an everlasting, burning hell are to be received.

The Christian counts the reproaches of Christ far greater than the pleasures of the world. He is willing to endure suffering and scorn from the wicked now, if it means eternal joy in heaven later. But the evil have their reward or "pleasure" now; but nothing but misery and pain in eternal hellfire later, Which shall ye choose? Look to the end result of the pathway you are now following. What will be your end?

Secondly, one should become a Christian because it is what God wants one to be. This ought to be a sufficient reason for anyone. God is our Creator or Maker and He has the right to our unwavering obedience. He earnestly desires that we become His children. Yea, He even commands that we change or repent and He warns us of a coming day of judgment: "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now He commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: inasmuch as He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom He lath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He bath raised Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30, 31)

Jehovah sincerely desires that we be His faithful children. He wants no individual, whomever or wherever he may be, to perish, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; hut is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) Truly, God wants every man, woman and child of responsible age to become and to remain a child of His. Either one repents — or he perishes. This is plainly taught in this verse. Are you going to repent? or perish? The choice is up to you alone. God pleads with you to repent and be a Christian.

Only a Christian can glorify God. God is not pleased with one in rebellion to Him. One ought to become a Christian because of his influence for good. The disciples of Christ are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13, 14) They are the preserving power and the brightening influence. There is not a single "good" thing in this world — that did not come from God. (James 1:17) Therefore, the Christians today are to preserve this good and prevent it from being lost in the darkness of evil. You ought to be a Christian in order to preserve the good in the world. Sodom and Gomorrah fell because there was simply not enough good left in them to save them from destruction. Our great nation also can fall if there is not enough good left in it.

Another reason you ought to become a Christian is because of your family responsibility. If you are a parent, you have a grave responsibility to your children and to God. This responsibility is to teach your children the way of God. Under the Old Law (Deuteronomy 6:4-7) the obligation was laid upon the parents to bring up the children in fear, reverence and knowledge of Jehovah. I believe the obligation is no less today. The Words of God must be on our heart and mind, and we must talk of them when we sit, walk, lie down and rise up, and the parent is to teach them diligently to the child. Now, the question is; how can the parent do this unless he himself is a Christian? How can you teach your child to reverence God if he cannot see it in YOU? How can you teach your child to love God if he knows you do not? How can you instill in your child a righteous heart if he cannot see it in you? Actions are louder than words. If you tell your child by word of mouth, over and over, to be a "good" person — but yet you yourself are not — which will he follow? How can any parents honestly teach their children to respect God when they themselves do not? In short, my friend, you cannot teach your child the way of the Lord unless he can see it in YOU. This is another reason why you ought to become and remain a faithful child of God.

Finally, you should become a Christian because it is the only way to heaven! There is only one way to eternal life and that is the way of Jesus Christ. Anyone who refuses to become a Christian is refusing to go to heaven. There is one straight and narrow way to eternal life. Few will find it, we are told in Matthew 7:14. Will you be one of them? The decision is entirely your own. You certainly can be one of these "few" if you will but become a Christian.

Actually, there is only one reason for not becoming a child of God. Many excuses and objections are given by various individuals to why they are not Christians. But only one real objection can be offered. And that is simply "Because I do not want to go to heaven." If you desire to never pass through the portals of pearl into the city of gold — then do not become a Christian. But if you want to live forever in eternal joy, light and love — then walk in the straight and narrow way of Jesus our Saviour.

You ought to become and remain a Christian; because everyone who will enjoy heaven — was a child of God on earth,

— 241 Grant Street, Coalinga, California