Conviction or Convenience? (Part One)
Various Scriptures
Introduction
Everyone here has heard the story of the young lady at Columbine High School who, being asked if she believed in God, said, “Yes,” and was promptly shot and killed.
Stories vary, but there is general agreement that Cassie was not the only one targeted because of her faith in Christ that day.
This raises a very important question: why didn’t they take the easy way out and, for the sake of saving their lives, just simply say no?
There is really only one reason: they were convinced that the truth of Jesus was more important than saving their lives.
Would you and I have the courage they
showed that day? Or would we, thinking not only of our own lives, but the lives of those we would be leaving behind, be inclined to say we weren’t a Christian?
The title of this message is “Convenience or Conviction.” Convictions are so important, and you will see why as we progress this morning.
My purpose this morning is to encourage you to be men and women of conviction.
We will look at the importance of gaining convictions as well as two areas specifically where we need to have strong convictions.
I. The Importance of Convictions
What do you mean by convictions, Brian?
Convictions go beyond just belief. Beyond strong belief.
People don’t die for beliefs. They don’t die for strong beliefs. They die for their convictions.
When this country was being formed, was it formed by people who had a strong belief in freedom from tyranny?
No! It was a CONVICTION that we had inalienable rights given us by our Creator, and that those rights were worth dying for, if necessary.
Did our veterans of WWI and WWII fight because they thought it was a good thing to do? No, they fought with the conviction that the United States is the greatest country in the world, and that it is worth defending. Threatening our allies meant threatening us.
You see the point?
II. Areas of Conviction
Let’s take a look at a couple things we should have convictions about. But before we do that, I want to point out that the word conviction and convince sound a bit alike. Why is that, do you suppose? I think it is because our convictions are based on those things we are convinced about.
Here are some things we need to be convinced about, in my opinion.
A. The Word of God.
First, we need to be convinced that the Bible is the Word of God. Not just a good book of nice religious writings, but the very Words of God. Written by the Holy Spirit through men. Listen to 2 Peter 1:19-21:
-And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.-
We need to be CONVINCED of this. And not only this, but in the eternal nature of the Bible. Listen as I read Isaiah 40:8:
-“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever.”
Hallelujah! That is something to hold onto.
This is so important because in these times of turmoil and political correctness, we need an anchor to grab – something we can trust without reserve.
Ladies and gentlemen, are you truly convinced of the trustworthiness of the Word of God? If not, you will have a hard time being convinced of anything it has to say.
B. Jesus Christ
The second area in which we need to hold convictions is the reality of the need for Jesus for salvation.
I’ve quoted John 14:6 many times, but let’s hear it again:
-Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”-
Did He mean that or not?
Listen to Acts 4:12:
-“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”-
Is that true or not? If it is true, and it is, then we need to ACT like it.
We are coming on the Easter season. In two weeks we will celebrate Palm Sunday. We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper that morning.
Why do we do that? It is because we are CONVINCED that Jesus’ blood shed on the cross was exactly what was needed to save sinners from hell. We are convinced that He paid the price for us, and that because of His perfect sacrifice we can spend eternity in heaven, if we only accept what He has done for us. We are convinced that He did everything necessary to secure our salvation, taking on Himself the penalty for our sins.
We are not observing some meaningless ritual. We are celebrating because of our conviction that He paid it all.
The following week we celebrate Easter.
Why do we do that? Because we are CONVINCED that Jesus not only died for our sins, but that He ROSE victorious over death and hell, opening the gates of heaven for you and me. He didn’t stay in that old grave, HE ROSE!!
And He is at the right hand of the Father even now interceding for us.
PRAISE GOD!!
III. Convenience or Conviction?
Folks are you CONVINCED about these things, or do you just believe?
If it is your CONVICTION that Jesus was who He said He was, and that He died and rose from the grave to bring you to heaven, then get excited about it, for heaven’s sake!!
And hang onto that conviction when the times get tough and you are challenged as to the truth of your faith in Christ.
Another thing: we act on our convictions above all else.
You see, if we just believe Jesus died for our sins, and that we need Him for salvation, we won’t do much about those around us perishing and going to a godless hell.
If it is our CONVICTION that He is really the only way to heaven, then it drives us to taking opportunities given us to share the gospel.
I’ve said before that Christianity is not a convenient religion. Paul says in 2 Timothy that all who want to live a godly life in Christ will be persecuted.
Jesus said that the world would hate His disciples because it hated Him. That is certainly true today, isn’t it?
And we have it easy here in the U.S. Don’t forget that. We might be ridiculed and reviled for our faith, but it is rare for someone to lose their life here because they love Christ. That is why it makes such a huge impact when it does happen. But this is an everyday occurrence in many places around the globe.
And another thing: your convictions must be YOUR convictions, not your spouse’s, or your friends, or your pastor’s. They need to be YOURS. No one dies for someone else’s convictions. They die for their own.
Conclusion
It’s my conviction that the Church of Jesus Christ needs to be filled with people of conviction, not just belief.
The world wants people who are more concerned with accepting all “truths.”
What the world NEEDS is for men and women of conviction to take a stand for truth.
The world needs men and women of conviction to stand up and say, “There is only one way to heaven, and that is Jesus Christ. He invites all who will come to Him.”
The world needs men and women of conviction to take a stand on issues that reflect Biblical values and standards.
We have one of the most important elections most of us will ever be a part of coming up this fall.
We will elect a new president who will have the opportunity to appoint up to three Supreme Court Justices during his tenure in office.
Aside from that, a number of issues will be decided by ballot, including a resolution on repealing video lottery.
Folks, we need to display our convictions, and one of those ways is in the ballot box.
This nation needs to see men and women of conviction making their voices heard.
But be prepared. The world doesn’t like it when people of conviction are active, because it puts a cramp in their agenda. You may be persecuted for your convictions, but remember that Jesus will honor you before the angels in heaven, just as He promised.
And that will be worth it all. Let’s pray.
