The Gospel According to Matt

We just attended the North American Christian Convention.  It was nice.  In April, we attended the Exponential Conference.  It was awesome.  Between the two conferences we worshipped with more than 10,000 Christian leaders.  The Music & Arts were great at both, particularly at Exponential.  The preaching and teaching were great at both.  People were enlightened, encouraged, and challenged.

No doubt, some considered their experiences at these conferences to be ”life-changing.”  At least, that’s what I’ve heard a few people say.

But i’m skeptical.  Maybe it’s just my nature.  Maybe it’s just my experience.  Or maybe it’s because I’ve seen so many people talk about having a “life-changing” encounter with God without making any tangible changes in their life. 

Honestly, can you have a “life-changing” experience, if nothing changes in your life?  You might say, “My mind changed.”  But doesn’t an authentic change of mind translate into a change in actions and patterns?  You might say, “My heart changed.”  But doesn’t an authentic change of heart translate into an exchange of treasure?  In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

At the NACC last week, pastor Wayne Smith mentioned how often people get this backward.  Most people think it means: “Where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.”  But that’s not what Jesus says.  Jesus says: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  It’s a subtle but significant nuance.  It’s safe to say that one cannot have a change of “heart” without having a change of “treasure.”

It feels good, spiritually, to say “God has changed my life.”  But if nothing tangible (nothing in your treasure chest, in your habits, in your lifestyle) has changed, then it’s a lie.  One cannot have a change of mind and heart, without making tangible changes.

It reminds me of all the men who wanted to follow Jesus in Matthew 8:18-22.  They thought they wanted to follow Jesus.  The felt like they wanted to follow Jesus.  The believed they wanted to follow Jesus.  They might have even talked about having a ”life-changing” encounter with Jesus.  But Jesus sensed otherwise.  In fact, they were not willing to make tangible changes and sacrifices.  Thus Jesus rejected them as followers.  This might be Jesus’ thinking behind his statement in Matthew 22:14 that ”Many are called, but few are chosen.”

Before you start talking about how God has changed your life, you might start asking if your life is tangibly different than it was before.  If nothing has changed in your life since you encountered God, perhaps you have not actually encountered God.  It’s just a thought, but it might be worth considering.