Have you ever messed up in life? I sure have! But one phrase brings me comfort: “I may make mistakes, but at least I got the most important thing right; I follow Jesus Christ as my Savior!”
Here are 13 reasons why I believe that deciding to follow Jesus Christ is the wisest decision in life:
- He is the Only way to God.
- He is the Source of life.
- He is the Source of Spiritual truth.
- He is the Source of love.
- He is the Source of joy.
- He is the Source of peace.
- He gives us a new identity.
- He gives us life purpose.
- He gives eternal life.
- He forgives sins and sets us free from them.
- He comforts us in sorrow.
- He is the key to an overcoming life.
- He has prepared an eternal home for us.
I pray every person reading this accepts Him as their Savior and will follow Jesus (if they haven't already)!
1. He is the Only Way to God
Many people say that there are many paths to God. But our Lord's words are clear that this is a lie:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
- John 14:6
You can't get any plainer than that! Once you hear these words, you have a choice about how to respond to them.
As the old saying goes, “Either you believe Jesus is a liar, lunatic, or He is Lord.”
He is neither a liar nor a lunatic; He is Lord.
The apostle Peter said it best in response to the Lord's question after a particularly hard saying:
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- John 6:67-69
2. He is the Source of Life
According to the following Scripture, all things were made through and for Jesus as the living Word of God:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."
- John 1:1-4
However, rather than running from life, wouldn't it be wiser to run to the Source of life and connect with Him to make sense of it?
When we dedicate our lives to the Lord, we can trust in His wisdom and strength to overcome in daily life.
3. He is the Source of Spiritual Truth
This world is filled with misinformation meant to distract and deceive. But God is not the author of confusion. In the Bible, we learn the way to clarity:
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
- John 8:31-32
Our Lord invites His faithful followers to come to Him for wisdom:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
- James 1:5
Because we do not know everything, then it makes sense to seek wisdom from the One who does in everyday life!
4. He is the Source of Love
Our Savior's sacrifice on the cross was the most dramatic demonstration of love ever! He suffered as no one in history has ever suffered. He was tortured, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day.
Because He conquered death and rose from the grave, so we arise to newness of life in Him:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
- John 3:16
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."
- John 15:13
We love Him because He first loved us."
- 1 John 4:19
5. He is the Source of Joy
Reflecting on the Lord's love through the words He spoke in John 15: 9-11 is the key to joy and gratitude:
As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
Our Savior reminds us of the heart of the commandments in Matthew 22:37-41:
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
His joy is our strength. Renewing our minds to truth, walking in it, and experiencing God's goodness in all circumstances makes us true followers of our Lord!
6. He is the Source of Peace
God's word says that He will keep us in perfect peace as we keep our minds stayed on Him because we trust in Him (see Isaiah 26:3). Jesus gave us the gift of His peace; it is up to us to accept and live in it:
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
- John 14:27
7. He Gives Us a New Identity
When we accept the Christ as our Savior, we gain a new life and identity through His Spirit:
A New Life
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
- Romans 8:11
A New Identity
When Jesus is your Savior, you become:
A Child of God
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
- John 1:12-13
A Saint
To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
- Romans 1:7
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;"
- Philippians 1:6
The Righteousness of God in Christ
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
And so much more in Him!
8. He Gives Us Life Purpose
Hallelujah - as Believers, we are Kingdom citizens!
We were given life not just to hang out, amuse ourselves, and make a living but to build up God's kingdom. We are meant to know God, glorify Him (reflect His character), and to share our faith in Jesus:
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
- John 15:5
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
- John 15:8
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.'"
- Galatians 5:22-23
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
- Matthew 28:19-20
9. He Gives Eternal Life
The Lord's teaching tells us that life exists beyond our time on Earth. In our personal relationship with Him, we not only experience authentic life now, but in the life to come:
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
- John 17:3
The opportunity to have a family relationship with the Lord is the opportunity of a lifetime!
You do not want to miss it.
10. He Forgives Sins and Sets Us Free From Them
Sin hardens our hearts to God and other people. In our flesh, we have no power to overcome it.
However through our Lord's sacrifice on the cross, He paid our sin debt. When we believe in our hearts that He is the Son of God, confess our sins to Him, and declare Him as our Lord, He forgives us of our sins.
Not only that, but His Spirit comes to live in us and gives us power to overcome sin!
Through yielding to God's Spirit within us and walking in obedience, we will walk in righteousness. Because we love Him, we hear His Word and put His word into practice to keep our paths straight.
Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."
- Acts 5:31
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.
For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness."
- Romans 6:16-19
11. He Comforts Us in Sorrow
Jesus knows what it feels like to lose someone you love, to be lied on and rejected. Therefore, we can come to Him during times of grief and sorrow.
We don't have to bear these dark seasons alone because we have the light of life!
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him."
- Isaiah 53:3
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."
- Hebrews 4:14-15
To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
- Isaiah 61:3
12. He is the Key to an Overcoming Life
Through our Lord, we have confidence that we can overcome any challenge. Through His grace, He gives us everything we need for victory. However big the challenge, our God is bigger!
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:33
13. He Has Prepared an Eternal Home for Us
As a child of God, we have assurances that the Lord is with us now and we will have everlasting life in Him:
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
- John 14:2-3
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
- James 1:12
I hope this list of 13 reasons why deciding to follow Jesus is the wisest thing to do solidifies your faith or if you haven't already, take the first step to follow Him today.
Feel free to add your reasons in the Comments!
Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,