Before you give your life to Christ, Terms And Conditions Apply and it’s very important that you know these ‘Terms and Conditions,’ either as a new covert or old-time believer.
Whenever you listen to, watch, or read advertisements by Companies, Businesses, Banks, and Network Providers paid adverts for promos on their goods and services, either via print media, social media, audiovisual (radio), or Cable Televisions you will often hear the expression ;
“ Terms and conditions apply” at the end of the ad. It is spoken quickly.
According to the Dictionary of International Trade, Terms and Conditions ( TS&CS), The terms and conditions detail the rules that apply to fulfilling a particular contract and that form an integral part of that contract.
Buyers and sellers must agree to the terms and conditions to form a contract.
If we are to carry out a research survey today in the Christendom, and amongst the community of people who profess to be believers of the Christian faith and Jesus Christ, there will be a shocking result, which will show that many of them are bitter and angry against the LORD God whom they profess to believe in.
So many of them have fallen out of faith in God. With their lips, they talk about Him but deep down in their heart they know, that their heart is no longer with the LORD.
As a matter of fact, it might interest to you know, that this is not just applicable to the laity.
There are many clergymen and women who climb the pulpit on designated service days to preach and teach, but their heart is weary, bitter, and angry against God.
They just do not have the boldness to walk away because of how people will see them and what they will say. So they show up to put up a show but their heart is not in it.
Preaching and teaching without the Spirit present nor love in their heart for the one whom they stand speaking of anymore because their heart has grown cold and weary.
Most people who profess to be Atheists today were once strong believers and followers of Jesus Christ but today they don’t believe in Him anymore.
They say there is no God, and mentioning the name of the LORD God is a big taboo before them.
In their hearts is so much bitterness, pain, and anger against the LORD God.
Why you may ask?
For some of them, the LORD God did not meet their expectations of Him, while for some, He did not show up when they wanted Him to either; heal a sick loved one or stop a particular incident from happening, neither did He answer their prayers when they wanted Him to.
Because God did not show up or answer their prayers how and when they wanted, neither did He work out things the way they thought He would or should, they became bitter and angry against the LORD God, saying there is no God.
Trust the devil, he never misses any opportunity to sell God as either nonexistent or the bad and cold-hearted deity who doesn’t care for the needs and pain of those who worship Him.
As it is in the case of the Atheist, so also is it in the case of those who profess to be believers of Christ with their lips but deep down in their hearts, they have no communion or friendship with Him anymore as they used to because of one need or another he failed to meet.
The only thing keeping them from walking away and saying like the Atheist that they don’t believe in God, or there is no God is the fear of going to Hell Fire when they die.
Times and times again, they prayed and believed God for a miracle, but He did not answer, and neither did He give them the desires of their heart as they read in the Scripture.
It would appear that the more they prayed to God that things should go right, and miracles should happen, the more it would seem that evil is winning over light.
Oh! The heart-wrenching pain when prayers are not answered, disappointments upon disappointment, sickness; cancer, diabetes, accidents, miscarriages, loss of a child or spouse, mother or father who is the backbone of the family despite all the prayers, a sister, brother or friend and layoff at work.
You pray to God to intervene and give you a miracle, but He doesn’t. Not because He can’t, but because He just chooses not to.
It weakens our hearts and believe in the One whom we are told is All-Powerful and can Do All Things and make all Impossibilities Possible.
Even the Scripture said; “ Hope deferred makes the heart sick …” Proverbs 13:12
The Message Bible translation says, “ Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick…
I can relate to this verse of the Scripture, because of my past experiences on this journey of faith, and the last one that happened to my family and me on March 24th, 2022, which is the proverbial last straw that broke Carmel’s back.
My Mum died 24th of March 2022, she was sick and diagnosed with cancer.
I’m a strong believer in Jesus Christ and His Miracles, I prayed my heart out when she was first diagnosed, during her treatments, and through all her pains.
I trusted the LORD God for a miracle, I was not the only one praying, prayer altars were raised for Mum by various people, my siblings, and even Pastors.
I held onto my faith and believe that my mum would receive her healing from God.
I have heard how God cured people of Cancer miraculously while receiving treatments and believed so much that He would show up and do the same for my mum but lo and behold, He did not.
My Mum despite all the prayers and supplications died.
My world crumbled. I was angry and disappointed in God.
I could not pray, I cried and cried, refusing to be comforted, and as I’m writing now having to remember it all, I’m crying again.
Why would a God who says He loves us, stand and watch while sickness ravishes our body or that of our loved ones and snuff life out of them without stopping it after all we worship and call upon His name?
Why would He not heal us?
Why did He not answer my prayers to heal my mum?
Why did He let my Mama like I fondly call her die?
Is there God?
Am I not just wasting my time calling on and worshipping a God whose image or frame I can not point to but just have to believe simply because I was told He exists?
Oh! I had over a million “ Why.”
Holding her cold and lifeless body tore my heart into a thousand pieces that words will fail me to express.
I was a mess mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and in every sense, you can think of and nearly lost my mind and died from the pain.
Because how can it be said, that I prayed for people who are sick and God answered, told people about Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, love and all, my mum was sick, God did not heal her and she died despite all my prayers and professing of faith and healing Scriptures
The enemy as his manner is, came to use my pain, to corrupt my heart, and make me bitter, angry, and disappointed in God. It was not an easy battle. But I thank God for His Spirit who helped and still helping me in my healing journey perhaps someday if God gives me the grace I will share more.
So dear struggling believer and clergy whose heart has become weak, weary, sick, and beloved Atheist I can relate with your pain and aching heart, I empathize with you because I have been where you are now and still there, save for the Spirit of God helping me.
If there is one “Truth and nothing but the truth ’’ I have learned in my Christian belief Journey in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, through the sickness and death of my mother, that just as it is with Companies, Businesses, Networks Providers and Banks who when they run promo ads and end with “ Terms and conditions apply”, so also it is when making a choice to follow and believe in Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and Savior, “Terms and conditions apply.”
Yes, you read me clearly.
I’m just going to rip the bandage so that you can feel the pain once and for all and know what you have signed up for as an old-time believer and follower of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith, whose heart has grown cold towards the LORD God because of your present life afflictions and pains which has got you questioning everything you believe, heard or read about the LORD God either in the Scriptures or shared testimonies of other believers in the faith,
Or is about to sign up as a new intending believer of this faith. and decide if this journey is one you really want to embark on.
Beloved once you decide to give your life to Jesus Christ, you sign up to become a Soldier in the Army of God’s Kingdom.
In the physical army of the realm of men on earth, before an individual is enlisted into the Army of any country, he or she is given an enlistment contract to sign.
This enlistment contract is the Terms and Conditions that apply to their enlistment. It contains expectations of the Country’s Army, for enlisted Soldiers, and the moment he or she signs the dotted lines, they become the property of the government of the Army to whom they swore allegiance to do as it pleases, send or assign them to anywhere it pleases and they are expected to obey without complaint because that’s the life they signed up for when they enlisted.
As it is within the physical army of the realm of men on earth, so it is with the Army of God’s Kingdom.
Once any man or woman, with their mouth having heard the Word of God and feels convicted in their heart, confesses their sin and accepts Jesus Christ as their Personal Lord and Savior as well as Identifies with His death and resurrection through water baptism by Immersion, he or she signs the dotted lines and is automatically enlisted in the Army of God’s Kingdom to be trained fit for battle.
Unlike in the physical army of the realm of men on earth, where enlisted Soldiers are trained in the Army barracks and different training centres, there is no specially designated training ground or centre for enlisted Soldiers in the Army of God’s Kingdom.
Our training ground is the different trials and challenges we face daily in our walk and believe in Him, and Our training Manual is the Bible. Everything that happens in our life from there on is strictly on how our training officer the LORD God wills.
One Truth that is not emphasized enough in the Tenets of the Christian faith and belief is that; “ The Christian journey is not a perfect journey.
- It is a journey filled with ups and down, excruciating pain, taking of blows, and attacks from the arch enemy of God the devil, whose sole mission is to make sure you do not become a decorated and qualified Soldier in the LORD’s Army and enter into His Kingdom, Heaven.
- It is also a journey of laughter, righteousness, and peace that pass all human understanding guiding your heart, joy in the Holy Spirit, victory in the name of Jesus Christ, and everything working together for your good, including your blows and attacks. Romans 8:28
Being a Christian or accepting Jesus Christ into your life doesn’t automatically mean that all your problems or challenges are automatically solved nor do your prayers receive immediate answers or things happen exactly the way you think or feel.
The LORD God from Genesis to Revelation never said that when you come to Him, all your problems are solved and need to be met.
Not He did not.
As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ in John 16:33 said, “ …Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows …”
The challenges of a Christian are inherited by the virtue of giving our lives to Christ. Once you identify to be a Christian you are declared an automatic enemy of the devil.
Thus, if you are already a believer of Jesus Christ, or you intend to be tomorrow, you need to know the following;
Terms and Conditions For Every Enlisted or Intending To Enlist Soldier Of Jesus Christ In The LORD’s Army :
1. Your life is for God’s Glory: Beloved it is important you know, as a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ who is a Soldier in the Army of the LORD’s Kingdom, as long as you have the breath of life in your lungs, the life you have is not your own, it’s for God’s Glory to display His mighty works.
In our life journey on earth, we humans seem to always forget the Sovereignty of God (the Potter) who moulds us (the clay) as He wills.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote these words of God: “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” The LORD God of host who made the heavens and the earth is the potter, and we, His creatures are the clay.
When the potter takes a lump of clay, he usually does so with a plan in mind. As the potter has a plan, so too God has a plan for every creature of His. He moulds and shapes us however He seems best, to fit His purpose for our life.
The clay is submissive to the potter while he moulds. The clay cannot question the Potter.
One thing is sure, whatever God does, it’s to show His Power and Wisdom that His name will be glorified throughout the whole earth.
The story of the man who was born blind is an example in John 9:1-41
As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who had been born blind from birth. “Rabbi His disciples asked Him, “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parent’s sins?”
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,’’ Jesus answered. “This happened so that the power of God could be seen in him.
Let’s take a minute to ponder on how life must have been for him and his parents, before his encounter with Jesus who healed him.
Perhaps there were times the parents exchanged words, blaming themselves for how their son was born. Let’s take a minute to ponder how difficult life must have been for the man. From what Jesus said, it’s no one’s fault he was born blind. He was born blind simply because the potter, the LORD God choose to mould him blind so that his mighty works might be displayed in him.
Was God’s mighty works displayed? Of course, it was, when he was healed not just that, it also caused a lot of controversies which eventually led to the repentance and belief of the healed blind man in Jesus in Verse 38.
A similar case in the Scripture is the story of the Death Of Lazarus in John 11:1-44. Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary, and her sister Martha. ( This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair .) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “ Lord, the one you love is sick.”
When he heard this, Jesus said, “ This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days…”
Jesus heard that the one whom he Loved was sick, but he did not go rushing to his house to see and heal Him. Rather He spent two more days where he was until Lazarus died.
How can you say you love someone and they are sick and you don’t show up until he or she dies? Such insensitivity and wickedness right?
The truth beloved which we have failed to understand and realize as believers and followers of Jesus Christ is that; we are made by God for His own Glory and honour thus every circumstance, pain, situation, sickness, and even death of that loved one whom we prayed to Him to heal but He allowed to die is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.
Most times we feel entitled to God’s blessings, healing, and provision simply because we serve and worship Him.
Have you ever paused to ponder, where you were before God formed you with the blood and water in your mother’s womb, gave the breath of life to your lungs, and made you a living being?
Ever thought of that deeply?
That God loves you and I does not mean that we are immune to challenges, pains, sorrow, life challenges, sickness, and death. The beauty of it is that, in the end, our life and all that hurt and discomfort us bring Him glory.
This is the core purpose of our existence fulfilled.
If Jesus had gone to the house of Lazarus while he was sick and healed him, it won’t have been such a big deal.
However, the death, embalming, and burial of Lazarus, and Jesus calling him forth from the tomb where he was buried, caused many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did, to believe in him and it brought Glory To God.
The death and resurrection of Lazarus did the evangelism that if he was healed of his sickness by Jesus, won’t have done.
Beloved believer and Soldier of Christ, is your life-giving Glory To God and His Son?
If your life is not giving Glory to God, you can not be said to be living for Him.
As a soldier, believer, and follower of Jesus Christ, every air you breathe is to give Him glory including your death or that of your loved one. Apostle Paul said; “ For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Whether you or your loved one lives or dies, it should bring Glory to God.
The Passion Bible Translation of (Proverbs 13:12) which I quoted earlier says,…when hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing …
I know you are hurting in your heart, many things and circumstances happening around don’t make sense, and this has made your heart sick you’ve fallen into depression because your answers seem to drag on and on. But the truth is, whatever may be your present need, situation, or pain, it is for God’s Glory.
It doesn’t mean He is wicked, nonexistent and a deity who cares not about His follower’s feelings and weaknesses like the enemy will have you believe.
Ever wondered how the sisters of Lazarus must have felt when their brother was sick and they sent for Jesus whom they know has the ability to heal him immediately, and Jesus did not come but spent extra two days where he was?
How every time someone knocked on the door they stood up to check if it was Jesus?
How Lazarus felt also in his heart, writhing in pain while still expectant that, of course, Jesus loves him, and will soon come to heal him but Jesus never showed up until he drew his last breath?
I’m sure his sisters must have been so angry and disappointed in Jesus, made comments such as;
“I thought he said he loved us and is our friend, where is he now that we need him?”
Mary might have thought in her heart; so after pouring my expensive perfume on him and wiping his feet with my hair in worship to him, He could not even show up to heal my brother?”
Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” In order words, we sent for you but you couldn’t be bothered now he is dead.
Beloved, I know you have put in years of service and commitment to God, sowed seeds, and evangelized the gospel of Jesus Christ and it appears that He loves everyone but you.
You expected Him to come yesterday, two days ago, last week but it’s four days, four months, years later yet He has not bothered to show up and grant your request and supplications, so your heart has become sick, and weary and everything is depressing.
I bring you words from the Master of the Universe today, Peace be still! Psalm 46:10
I will never leave you nor forsake ( Deuteronomy 31:6).
Whatever you are trusting and believing Him for, is not unto death but for His Glory and even if It leads to death, it is still for His Glory because Your Life is for His Glory!
Since you know this now, it is time you return back to Him.
It doesn’t matter how far you have gone away from His presence nor turned your heart against Him, He beseeches you, dear son and daughter, Come ! let us reason together, for your light affliction, which is but for a moment irrespective of how long or no of years it has lingered, is working for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!
As you come, ask the LORD God, Create in me a new and clean heart oh LORD, free of sickness, depression, and weariness, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you always and my life brings you Glory, Amen.
Beloved new, and intending believer of Jesus Christ, this is not to scare you away, but to help you prepare your mind, for the Journey you are about to embark on so that tomorrow you will not become a castaway after you have confessed you believe but because of the pressures you turn your heart away.
Jesus replied, “ No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9: 62
See Also;
Before You Give Your Life To Christ, Terms And Conditions Apply Part 2
God Bless You
