What Now?
"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" Luke 15:10 KJV
WELCOME!
If you've just accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Only you and God know the fulness of your story up until this very point and you are now on the right path, covered by the Blood of Jesus and in God's hands.
You've made the right choice, a choice that has changed the course of your destiny for the best. It was divine intervention in your life that brought you to this point and also to this page. Know that with Jesus you are forever valued, forever special and in His will, you'll forever be exactly where you're meant to be.
There's a lot that you will learn on your journey as you continue to walk with God and grow. Below you'll find basic sound principles along with Tips and WARNINGS to help you to remain grounded in your faith. You can make a mental note of them to help you throughout your journey.
I'm so excited for you! I know God is more excited than me, but just want you to know how excited I am!! Congratulations again.
The basics:
Read your Bible daily and study it:
"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8 KJV
Remember, as time progresses toward the second coming of Christ, deception is going to run rampant in society. If you think it's bad now, it gets worse. To protect yourself from deception, it's wise to read and study your Bible regularly. Go at your own pace, but go. Know what's in the Word of God for yourself and equip yourself with an arsenal of scriptures that can come to mind when you will need them most.
Pray daily:
"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV
Pray the Word of God. Learn to love prayer and incorporate this practice in your life daily. Prayer is your unrestricted communication with God. Prayer is an invaluable instrument used to initiate, bring forth and sustain visible and invisible manifestations of your petitions that are in alignment with the will of God.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" Matthew 7:7 KJV
Practice:
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22 KJV
Practice is key. It's important to read and study God's Word and it's equally important to practice the instructions that you find. This is how you become wise in the sight of God and how your character transforms for God's glory and for your benefit.
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:25 KJV
Find a Bible believing assembly:
"not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as the the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ's return] approaching." Hebrews 10:25 AMP
Remember that YOU are the church. The body of Christ is the true church, not a building; when Jesus returns, it will not be for physical buildings. So if a building called 'church' is not filled with the 'church' (followers of Christ), this is not a place where you want to fellowship. You want to fellowship in a congregation (big or small), where you are hearing and being fed the Word of God, where the speakers are preaching what God wants them to say not necessarily what the congregation wants to hear.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables." 2 Timothy 4: 3-4 KJV
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your search for a church home/assembly. This step of asking the Holy Spirit for guidance is important! Not everyone that has the title of 'Pastor' is led by God and not every building that calls itself a church is a building where the Holy Spirit dwells in and feels welcomed in.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-16 KJV
Get baptized:
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38 KJV
When you have found your local assembly, take the opportunity to be baptized. If the opportunity is not offered, let it be known that's something you're interested in. The Holy Spirit will open the opportunity for you to be baptized.
Tip:
Don't beat yourself up about the life you had and the decisions you've made before you repented and gave your life to Christ.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
This can be difficult when memories of the past, coupled with the memories others have of you, remind you of who you were and the things that you have said and done. Be encouraged old things are passed away!
You may find it rewarding and liberating to turn the remembrance of your old ways into an occasion to rejoice over where God has taken you from, where He's bringing you and who you are becoming. Also, your story before Christ is now your testimony of deliverance.
Inasmuch, try not to beat yourself up. God has forgiven you and now you are on the right path. Now you're on the winning side.
"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Hebrews 8:12 KJV
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1 KJV
Warnings:
Watch the company you keep!
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." 1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV
It's made evident with the scripture above as well as with the next two listed below, that communication with the wrong company can corrupt you, bewitch you. Be vigilant. Often, people will say you think you're 'better than' or 'holier than' when you distance yourself to be in right standing with God. However, your soul is on the line and if the company you keep will influence you to walk away from the Truth, it ultimately will never be worth it.
Fact check new ways of thinking and suggestions you receive with God's Word.
"who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth" Galatians 3:1 KJV
"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" Galatians 5:7 KJV
Beware of knowing Jesus, but Jesus doesn't know you!
Make sure that you have a personal relationship WITH Jesus. The knowledge of Jesus alone is not enough.
A prophesied grand mistake on Judgement Day is that there will be people who call on Jesus to be recognized for entry into heaven, citing works that they did in His name while they were on earth. These same people were told to depart from Jesus because although they knew the name of Jesus, Jesus did not know them.
Take a look:
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23 KJV
From Jesus himself, below are principles with warnings that you can follow to ensure you're not one of those people that Jesus doesn't know:
- "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15 KJV
- "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32 KJV
- “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38 KJV
- "For whosoever shall do the will of my father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matthew 12:50 KJV
Repent!
God forbid that you ever find yourself off the path, don't be deceived into thinking it's too late. Instead, repent (completely forsake the error) and keep moving forward. Always remember that repentance is God's will; it's not the will of God for you to stay in a fallen state.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 KJV
Go with God and don't look back!
Written in love. Completed April 16th, 2025