In this blog I want to address two trains of thought about salvation. One train of thought is: “The people I know who go to church are boring. They just go to work, home, and church. So, when I am done living, I will get saved.” These people want to accept Jesus as their personal Savior; but fear they will not be able to enjoy life if they do.

The other train of thought is: “I am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost. I have Jesus and that is enough.” These people are born-again; and seem to think that any enjoyment of “worldly” activities is a sin.

Both thought patterns are faulty.

It is true that the activities that harm you physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally are forbidden by our Heavenly Father. For example:

  • He does not want you to harm your body through drugs, alcohol, gluttony or any other method. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God” (I Corinthians 6:19, NIV)?

  • He does not want you to be spiritually lost. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, KJV).

  • God does not want you emotionally distressed in any way. “Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:7, KJV).

  • He does not want you mentally ignorant. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Roman 12:2, KJV).

It is also true that Our Heavenly Father wants you to enjoy life to the fullest. Jesus said, “I come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, KJV).

Once you realize God wants you to enjoy the life He has given to you, it is on and poppin’.

I tell people all the time that all I need is time and money, and I have lot of ideas on how to use both. For example:

  • I love to travel, but not just for ministry. I have been to Israel and Greece for religious reasons, but traveled to Paris, London, Italy, and Egypt for personal gratification.

  • Eating delicious meals with love ones comforts my soul. My daughter, Tricia, cooked a seafood boil for Father’s Day and three generations attended. My! My! My!

  • Today a friend and I went to a nearby town to find a Books-a-Million bookstore. We spent a couple of hours in book lovers’ heaven. Oh, joy!

These activities may bore you; so, do what pleases you. Get a hobby. Join an exercise class. Train for a marathon. Live out loud and on purpose.

Do not reject Jesus looking at someone else’s lifestyle.

Do not let being saved be your reason for a poor quality of life.

Variety is the spice of Life.