Have you found yourself? Most people haven’t. Most people don’t know God. Coincidence? No! In order to know who you are and what you want out of life you have to get to know the one who formed you and knows the real you because He created you. Because He gives us and independent spirit and the evil in the world this does not come naturally. It comes supernaturally through divine revelation. The more you learn about God, the more you get to know your true identity in His Son, the more you get to know your true self-who you were created to be. How do you enter into this relationship? By turning from selfish ways that only serve to gratify the flesh and turn your life over to God. Doing things His way rather than following after the ways of the world. By believing in the sacrifice He provided as atonement for all of your wrongdoing. By being filled with the Spirit which enables you to persevere in the faith because Jesus said only those who persevere till the end will be saved (Matt. 24:13). This does not mean you are saved by your works but your works are affected if you have faith. Faith is the primary motivator for to have faith in God is to believe that He is and is a rewarder to those that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith-alone is true to a point but is dead if not made manifest in your good deeds. “So that they will see your good deeds (done in faith) and glorify your Father who are in Heaven.” (Matt. 5:16). “If you do not stand firm in your faith you will not stand at all.” (Isa. 7:9). As far as losing your salvation, God can work things out for the good of those that love Him to keep them from falling away. You would have to renounce your faith totally and completely and this is nearly impossible to those that have fallen in love with their Lord. But I say nearly because if you could use the doctrine of eternal security to justify “a little fun here and there” and end up in a backslidden state which could harden your heart against God. Playing with fire, buddy. If you truly love Him you will eventually come back and He has the power to make it happen but He won’t force you.
Most never find their true purpose in life, coincidentally about 80% if hate their vocations, because they have come to God/Jesus by faith, trusting in His plan for their lives, because they arent’ ready to give their lives and all it’s problems to a loving Heavenly Father. The same reason why many don’t go to a doctor when they are sick. Sin is not a sickness-it’s a lifestyle choice of choosing not to trust in God but rather in yourself. Because we were not made to establish our own righteousness (filthy rags compared to God’s) the way of the transgressor is hard and it produces many of society’s ailments which mostly result from stress & anxiety, hormone imbalances, and alas mental illnesses because everything starts in the mind. God wants your heart but Satan goes for you mind.
Many have come to God but don’t grow in their faith. They’ve either never been discipled by a mature believer or a church (which could brainwash you according to their doctrine if you don’t seek God for yourself), or they have faulty theology (like Calvinism which thinks God just miraculously does everything in His timing and doesn’t factor in human responsibility-while they’re waiting on Him, He’s waiting on them to step out with the faith He’s already given them). The greatest mystery of life is God’s absolute sovereignty and man’s free will. In a theology book by Wayne Grudem, he defended his calvinistic viewpoints but explained the other side as well. Man ultimately does what he wants-it just depends on where God is at in his life. So to end the age old debate-just step back and realize those theological differences you’re arguing with you’re subconsciously agreeing with if you think about it. Like my counselor says, both sides are actually friends and don’t even realize it. Jesus doesn’t only want to be your Lord, He wants to be your Friend. He says in John 15:15, a friend (as opposed to just a servant) knows his master’s business. Do you know your Master’s business? Do you know Him? Is He changing you? You don’t grow by seeking biblical knowledge. We don’t need anymore knowledge. You grow from a deepening relationship in which God takes you through life’s trials and learn to depend on Him more than ever (just like Jesus).