Question: I am a 22-year-old male who lives with my parents and siblings in New York City. I have been reading and studying God’s Word since October, 1996. When I first had a desire to know God and Christ, I had much enthusiasm. I was never afraid to preach the gospel to anyone.

However, in the last few months I have noticed that desire isn’t there anymore. My oldest sister considers all Christians to be hypocrites, my younger brother is ashamed of me and my younger sister doesn’t wish to be around me when I talk about Christianity.

Do Christians usually lose their enthusiasm for Christ after a while? If so, is frustration a part of this "phase" which I like to call it? I would appreciate any support, biblical or otherwise that you can give me.

God bless and be well!

Michael

Answer: Dear Michael,

What you describe happens to many Christians, who have a "first love" kind of experience – a honeymoon period – and then the "rubber hits the road" – and we find out what Christianity is all about. It is all about taking up our cross and following our Lord. It is not a life of ease and prosperity, but one of selfless giving and servanthood. Although there are some who try to tell us that Christianity is all about promises from God that we will never have bad health, and that we will achieve financial prosperity, the New Testament tells us that most Christians do not experience a "perfect" life here on earth – for that is not where our treasure is (Matthew 6).

For Christians, this life is not all there is! We had several great articles in the January/February 2000 issue of the Plain Truth on this topic: "There Must Be More to Life than Stuff" and "The Courage to Carry On," available in "back issues" on our website. God does not call us to do everything on our own – to solve all of the problems – to generate the answers. Those are the kinds of things he does. We are called to be reflections of his light (as opposed to generating it). We are called to be salt and light. We do not have the power and strength of and by ourselves to do what we need to do – only Jesus can do that in and through us. And that is the message of the gospel, isn’t it? So that no man can boast. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, "jars of clay".

Don’t become discouraged, Michael. Don’t assume that you have to change the world all by yourself. God knows that you can’t. What God wants from you is to yield your life to him, to be a tool he can use, in whatever way he chooses according to his sovereign plan, to help share the good news of his gospel. Be content with that. As Paul said – he had to learn to be content. We are world-changers – but only because Christ in us does all of the necessary work! Let us know if we can be of any further help.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht