My Desire for Blogging

For my first blog ever, I could say an absolute infinite number of things. So which words do I choose? Should my first blog be a witty joke sprung forth by my very own imagination? Or a childhood memory? Or should I talk about my day and the feelings I experienced on this very specific day? All are viable but – typical.

America’s culture is a very interesting one. In some countries, you are just a number. But in America, you are taught from a very young age that you are anything but a number. You are taught the American Dream – that anything is possible because you have been blessed with being born American. Truly, it is a blessing. However, using this as the Cornerstone of your life will only reap self-destruction.

The point I’m trying to make: the American culture is centered on the Self. “Believe in Yourself.” How many times have you heard that? Or seen that on a billboard? Or read it in a book? This is a very popular theme concerning motivation, work ethics, self-appreciation, identity, etc. It would be great to believe that everything you have ever worked for is a result of YOU. That YOU earned this. That YOU earned that. “I worked hard for this!”

For many reasons, I believe this has a lot to do with why being American and believing in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, sounds so far-fetched these days [however, not surprising: Paul wrote that Christians would be mocked and ridiculed for their faith in Christ]. To many people, Jesus is just a really, really, really old dead person that likes to tell people how to live their life. He tells you to believe in Him. The Bible confers that it is purely by the grace of God, through Jesus’ death on the Cross, that we can come before God undeserving of the wrath stored up against us for the sins we have committed. We can never perform enough works to get into Heaven. We can never do enough to justify ourselves before a holy God. We can’t do anything.

Therein exists a stark and devastating difference between what our culture tells us, “Believe in your Self. You can do it!” and what the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” No one likes to be told that they are helpless. No one likes to be told that their hope is not derived of themselves but rather, from a man/not-man named Jesus Christ.

When I was 17 years of age, I realized this truth. And in doing so, I realized that life is not about me. Life was not intended to be centered on me. Life is centered on Jesus Christ and the glory of God. In Him we find our motivation to live. In Him we find our work ethic. In Him we learn to appreciate that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. In Him we find our identity. In Him we find joy and peace forever.

I in no way want this blog to be centered on me. This blog is dedicated to my Savior who pardoned me of my sin and abides in me this very moment. I want this blog to be about the One I cherish most – Jesus Christ. His love knows no depth. His ways – none can comprehend.

I pray this blog would be used to break down some cultural misconceptions about Jesus, encourage fellow Christians, entertain you, make you mourn, challenge you to question life and consider why you think the way you do, etc. Most of all, I pray that I honor and glorify my Lord and Creator.

Is Jesus Christ the rock-solid Cornerstone of your life? Or are you built on shifting sands?

Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”