You may have read of Paul's miraculous encounter with Christ as he met Him and determined to follow Him--pretty spectacular! So where are all the bells and whistles heralding you into His kingdom? All still quiet, right? Still waiting for your miracle, proving you now have a new, loving Master who promised to keep you safe and hold you close, you--but none of your troubles have gone away. Except for the fact that you believe you will someday see Him face-to-face in the sweet by and by. You are sure of that--most of the time, but when something unexpected happens, in the darkness of our night, we tremble a little--what if we're wrong?
Your feelings are normal for a new baby Christians--don't all infants want what they want, and they want it NOW? They constantly demand their parents immediately fulfill their desire for a shiny toy they want NOW. They gradually learn that some things come today, others as they start learning how things work and later attend school to learn new skills and knowledge. (After all, no good parent will hand his car keys to a 12-year-old who still thinks traffic lights are for optional behavior.)
And when new people come to our country, they must follow rules and study about joys and responsibilities of its citizens in order to become card-carrying citizens of this earthly kingdom, must study a little of its history and goals before gaining entry and rights of a citizen, Same laws for us new citizens of God's Kingdom, learning we need to follow His instruction to learn and grow and please our Father, and as we work through each level of learning, what He wants and expects from us and gives us additional responsibility for what we learn.
A sincere commitment to our promised future is demonstrated by our efforts to please Him, honor Him and desire to devote our efforts in learning more about Him and this new eternal life and home He has promised. He knows we will stumble off His path set out for our journey and forgives us; He grades us on our faithful effort, not on perfect results--He knows--and you will learn--no one in this world (except Jesus) has or will ever attain perfection. Your honest efforts will gain a gold star of approval won by Jesus and bestowed by Him on whoever follows Him, even during our missteps, and He promises to keep our journey from going off its track, all the way Home!
And below is a good section of His roadmap you will need to carry with you as you go onward.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Cor 2.4-5
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—1 Cor. 2:9
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 1 Peter 1:13
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians10:31
My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ. Colossians 2:2Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
But he said to me, " My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" 2 Corinthians 12:9
What does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul? Deuteronomy 10:12
