What is life?

The Poet wrote,

What is life?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether 

Are people wisps?

What of man’s, or woman’s! accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply, 

A pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time?

Is it?

Or! 

Is life.

Yours and mine 

more!

Is it,

A divine opera?

An opera played out on a high mesa 

A stage suspended between,

Heaven and Hell.

Are we as Shakespear said,

Simply actors?

Life,

I believe. 

Is an opera played out before God.

Live!

On a high mesa,

Between Heaven and Hell.

And we,

We, Are, partakers in a play.

Individuals, who write our own script.

Awaiting the final curtain call

Sending us to eternity

Are you ready for the final curtain call?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

What will “they” say about you as you pass on?

What will God say?

Where will you spend eternity?”

The Psalmist wrote,

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; 

let me know how fleeting is my life. 

You have made my days a mere handbreadth; 

the span of my years is as nothing before you. 

Each man’s life is but a breath. 

Psalms 39:4,5

Jesus said,

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father 

except through me.”

 John 14:6

The Apostle Paul wrote,

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this not from yourselves, 

it is the gift of God— 

Ephesians 2:8

The writer of Hebrews wrote, 

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see...

And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Hebrews 11:1,6.

Where,

Where will you spend eternity? 

Are you sure you know where you will be?

Please think about it.

Judgement

Judgement

“The Jesus of the Scripture transcends all nations and calls all nations into judgment.”
Tony Campolo.
The Apostle Paul speaking to the Athenians in the Areopagus said,
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” Acts 17:29-32.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14
Here is what I as a Christian believe. I believe the above. God will one day judge the world. I also believe you can know here and now if you will get to heaven or not.
The apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
God reached down in love to mankind offering to each individual salvation. As C. S. Lewis said,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis
I also believe what the apostle John said when he wrote,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”1Timothy 1:15,16.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans tells us,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:9-13.
This is what I as a Christian believe.
God will one day Judge the world.
That being said you can here and now know where you will spend eternity by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour today. Accepting the Saving Grace God offers you today.
Will you pray a simple prayer like this today,
Dear Lord God
I accept your saving grace this day. I believe that Jesus is your one and Only Son. That He paid the price for my sins. Please forgive my sins.
Please Lord Jesus come into my heart and life and teach me your ways. That I may walk in your truth from this day froward. 
Amen.
Please consider it today.

Do you confess Christ?

Do you Confess Christ?
The apostle Paul said,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:9-13
Do you confess that you love God, that you love Jesus? By that I don’t mean get all fanatical and force Jesus and your beliefs down someone’s throat. I mean, do people see Jesus in all aspects of your life?
I have met many well meaning Christians who talk endlessly to those around them about Jesus. They never talk about anything their listener wants to talk about. Which unfortunately causes people to tune them out or worse stay away from them.
Other Christians try to force their beliefs or morality on non-Christians. They judge those who are not Christians. This is contrary to what the apostle Paul wrote when he said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Even Jesus gave us such a warning when He said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
If you judge someone by your moral standard then they may judge you by theirs and you may not like it.
We need to have a balanced approach when it comes to confessing Christ in our life. We need to witness with wisdom. Meet the person where they are at. We need to listen to what they have to say. Then tell them as much about Jesus as they are willing to listen to.
Not only that but we must do this without judging them.
Francis of Assisi said two important things Christians need to practice when he said,

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

And

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

What is your sermon saying?                                                                                                      

Please think about it.

Christian Living

Christian living
Here is something all Christians need to consider. It is written by the apostle Paul to the Romans. He states,
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:9-21.
Dear Christian are you living this kind of life?
When people see your life do they truly see Jesus reflected in you?
Please think about it.

Christ's Prayer

Christ’s prayer

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 
“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.  
I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:20-26.
Here we have hope for Christians.
Jesus here prays for not only his disciples but for all who would believe in Him through the actions of the disciples. In other words if you are a true Christian Jesus prayed this prayer for you.
Jesus prays for the unity of all believers saying.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
The purpose of that unity is that others may believe through the confession of our beliefs as Christians.
Christianity through the centuries has broken into many denominations all with various traditions and rituals. Traditions and rituals do not make a Christian. Core Christian values transcend denominations.
I believe the apostle Paul who wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
Writing to the Romans Paul said,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
Romans 10:9-13
These are two basic conditions laid down by the Apostle Paul that one must believe in order to be a Christian.
The other basic Christian beliefs are summed up by the apostles creed. While it was not written by an apostle of Jesus. It was obviously written by a true believer because it summarizes what all Christians believe it states,

I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

 I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

 I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. 

That he descended in hell.

 I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

 I believe in the Holy Ghost

I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

 I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

I believe in the resurrection of the body.

I believe in life everlasting.

If you claim to be a Christian do you believe this?
Please think about it.
  

You

You
Joel Osteen the American evangelist said,
“God didn’t make a mistake when He made you. You need to see yourself as God sees you.” Joel Osteen.
Osteen has a point. In the world we live in today, advertisers and the media try to dictate to us what is the ideal for you as a person. The fashion industry and the fitness industry spend billions trying to get us to buy their product so you can “look right” and “feel right”.
They present to the world a false ideal that is meant to sell their product by, saying we are lacking.
Sadly there are also many calling themselves Christians who are selling the same message wrapped up in a Christian package.
Now there’s nothing wrong with being in good shape, or looking nice. However few people can look like what the advertising media portray. And sadly too many obsess with trying to get “the look” the media say with should have.
Unfortunately it is because people buy into the media hype that can lead people into despair. They buy all the “right products”. Yet fail to get the “right results”. Which leads to a negative self image.
We need to see ourselves as God sees us. The Psalmist writes,
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.
I have said many times that the Psalmist is telling us that God knows us completely right down to our very DNA.
Every person is unique and every person is loved by God. My bible tells me God loves us irrespective of who we are or what we look like. Thus we need to love ourselves.
As Christians and for that matter non-Christians we need to follow God’s example. We need to do this because loving others and loving ones self is a universal truth we all can agree with.
 The apostle Paul setting the standard for Christian love when he said,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs.

 Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                                          1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
Do you practice this kind of love not only toward others but toward yourself?
Please think about it.

My Shepherd

My Shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, a

nd I will dwell in the house of the LORD

 forever. 

                                                  Psalm 23.

Trusting in the Lord can at times be hard. It takes faith and faith can be the hardest thing to do.
Lets face it you cannot see God. Yet God, through the Bible asks you to believe he exists simply by what you see around you and what you read in the Bible. God asks you to have complete trust in Him.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
The writer goes on to say,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.
I believe God asks us to have faith because he realizes those with true faith are true believers.
Scientist exercise faith all the time. They postulate a theory then do their best to prove it. Many like Albert Einstein had faith that their theories were correct even though they died before they were proven.
So it is with God. He asks that we believe in him through faith. A faith that we would be willing to die for and interestingly enough will be proven to be true upon our death.
Jesus asked this question of Martha
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26.
Do you believe as Martha did?
Is Jesus truly the Shepherd of your life?
Please think about it.

You and God

You and God

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1,2.
Where do you stand. Do you stand with God or not. You can’t have it both ways.
The book of Joshua records this statement,
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15.
How committed are you to your God?
Over the years I’ve met many people who say they are committed Christians but a quick look at their actions brings that into question. I’ve known many people who have decided to skip a morning church service to go golfing or to a sports event or other secular event.
Many who go to church think nothing of skipping church to do other things when there is no need and many times you can do both.
I’ve met many who in the work place hide their faith for fear of being ostracized. Some even hide their faith from their neighbours.
Many fail to take a stand even on the most basic of Christian principle.
When given a choice between a midweek bible study many choose other things.
The bottom line here comes down to how strong is your commitment to Christ?
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:19-24.
Who do you serve?
The writer of proverbs tells us,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”Proverbs 3:5,6.
Is God and Christ center of your life?
Please think about it.

Your Legacy

Your legacy
The writer of Proverbs states,
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 
Proverbs 22:6.
Billy Graham said,
“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” 
What will your legacy be to your children. A hand full of pocket change? Some nice trinkets? Stocks and bonds? A mansion? A mud hut?
When my father and mother died they left me a few thousand in insurance money, some furnishings, pictures and other odds and ends.
They also however left me with my faith although they may not have thought they did.
My parents were lower middle class emigrants to Canada. They like all emigrants had their struggles but they gave me and my siblings a good childhood.
They also left us with the ability to think for ourselves. To question things. As soon as we were old enough to talk we were encouraged to think for ourselves and form our own opinion.
I can remember in my early teens discussing politics and religion with my parents. We’d discuss things we seen on the news, in the paper or on radio.
There were many times I disagreed with them especially on religion. Still my parents respected my beliefs even though at times they’d do their best to change my opinion.
It lead to some lively debates and I believe it moulded me into what I am today.
        Because those discussions with my parents, that were at times very lively. I have come to believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
It is this I have passed on to my own children. I like my parents before me encouraged my children to have an opinion on things. I encouraged them to search out the truths I presented them from the bible. To see for themselves if what I told them was right or wrong.
I never stopped them from looking at things contrary to what I believed. Which they did. The result for me has been a good one. Both my children are Christians and serve the Lord in various ways, both here at home in Canada and around the world.
Joshua Loth Liebman wrote,
“Give your children unconditional love, a love that is not dependent on report cards, clean hands, or popularity.  Give your children a sense of your whole-hearted acceptance, acceptance of their human frailties as well as their abilities and virtues.  Give your children your permission to grow up to make their own lives independent of you.  Give them a sense of truth; make them aware of themselves as citizens of a universe in which there are many obstacles as well as fulfilment’s.  Bestow upon your child the blessings of your faith.  These are the laws of honouring your son and your daughter.  Out of these laws will be built the Declaration of Independence for the coming generation, a spiritual and emotional independence that, in turn, will make the world free, democratic, safe, creative.”
What Liebman said, to me is saying what the writer of Proverbs wrote,
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6.
For me my faith, God, and my family, are the most important things in my life. As a Christian I can conceive of no greater blessing, no greater legacy, that I can bestow on my family than that of my faith. It gives them hope both in this world and the world to come.
What legacy will you leave for your family?
Please think about it.

To be Christian

To be Christian
        T. H. Huxley wrote,
“Throughout the history of the Western world the Scriptures have been the great instigators of revolt against the worst forms of clerical and political despotism.  The Bible has been the Magna Charts of the poor and of the oppressed; down to modern times no State has had a constitution in which the interests of the people are so largely taken into accounts, in which the duties so much more than the privileges of rulers are insisted upon, as that drawn up for Israel in Deuteronomy and in Leviticus; nowhere is the fundamental truth that the welfare of the State, in the long run, depends on the uprightness of the citizen so strongly laid down....The Bible is the most democratic book in the  world.” T. H. Huxley.
The Bible is a book that deals with the welfare of the individual. There are over 2,000 scriptures that deal with responding to the needs of the poor. Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
If you claim to be a Christian you should be treating others in the same way you would like to be treated. We should even be demanding of our religious leaders and our political leaders that they do the same.
Someone once put it this way to me.

If you love your freedoms, 

you should want that for others. 

If you like to be loved 

you should love others unconditionally. 

If you have a good education 

you should wish that for others. 

If you have good health care, 

you should wish that for others. 

In short as Jesus said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
James writes,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.
I like to point to health care. It to me is a basic human right. Everyone should have the right to the best possible health care. Yet millions not just in the third world but in the United States don’t have access to health care at all. And there are politicians who would make health care harder to get.
Even in Canada where I live, as good as the health care is, there is things lacking.
Today as I write this and as you read this people are dying of starvation in a world that has enough food to feed all it’s inhabitants. Even in the western nations people go hungry because they have to chose between putting a roof over their head and food.
There are many living on the street simply because they can’t find affordable housing. How sad.
Christian organizations do help. But we as individual Christians need to be calling on our leaders both religious and political to do more to help the poor.
It is what Jesus would have us do.
Please think about it.

The Christians job

The Christians job

I believe truth is truth no matter where you find it. On truth Christians should think about comes from the Talmud. It states,
“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?” The Talmud.
I can relate to Abraham at times. My siblings and I have a good relationship. However they  don’t know Christ. When the topic comes up they ignore it or make various excuses why they shouldn’t follow him. At times I wonder if I should bother even telling them.
At times I think like Abraham I’d like to drive them away. However I know I should never do that.
As Christians we should be ever so careful to keep a dialogue open between ourselves and non-believer.
Jesus tells Christians,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Note Jesus said go an make disciples of all nations. He didn’t say to force them into becoming disciples. We are to present the gospel of Christ to all people and let them decide.
We should show love and extend the hand of friendship to all those around us whoever they are. We should never drive them away because we disagree with their religion, lifestyle or actions.
The only way we can reach people is as I said by having a open dialogue and an exchange of ideas.
We should be willing to listen to others as much as we want them to listen to us. We should present Christ in a none threatening way. With language they can understand.
As good as the old King James bible is few people today use thee’s and thou’s when they speak. Some terms in the old King James have different meanings today. The classic example is the word Charity. Today it means giving to the poor. In the old King James it means love.
Reaching people for Christ means talking to them in language they understand. If that means using the Good News Bible, the New International, or what ever other translation works we need to be doing it.
Remember king James English was not the language of Jesus and the apostles and it is not the language of most of the world today.
As I see it from my perspective. The perspective of a teacher of the Bible for over forty years now, there are several things Christians need to do to win souls for Christ in the twenty-first century.
1. Pray that God will show you the best way to reach people.
2. Reach out in love to those around you without being pushy or aggressive.
3. Be respectful to those you are witnessing to. They have their beliefs and you must respect them whether you like them or not.
4. Do not judge them, be it because of what they believe, their life, or their lifestyle. The apostle Paul tell us, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”1 Corinthians 5:12.
5. Persevere, again without being pushy or aggressive. Remember your job is to present the message of Christ to people not force them to make a decision. Let God through the Holy Spirit show them the truth.
As Christians, we can at times, be like Abraham and get frustrated that they are not followers of the one true God despite all we have told them.
Remember Salvation is a personal thing between the person and God. It is up to the individual to decide who they will serve.
Finally and I can’t emphasise this enough in all that you do Pray, Pray, Pray.
And that should not need thinking about. 

The Christian Call

The Christian call
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.
The way I see this is the writer is telling us God knows the individual completely right down to their genetic code.
I believe only God and the person truly knows what makes a person who they are. No one else can possibly know.
I believe that is one of the reasons Jesus told Christians,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
Judging someone without all the facts is wrong.
The apostle Paul told Christians,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Thus Christians should not judge especially those outside the Church who do not believe as we do. They are to keep their own house clean so to speak.
Sadly there are many claiming to be Christians that are out there heaping condemnation on people and judging them quite often unfairly.
But Jesus anticipating this would happen, warned against such people. He said,
“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:22,23.
The call of the Christian is to tell people about the love of God.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.   Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Francis of Assisi said,
“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” Francis of Assisi.
This is what the Christian is to do. Reach out to the world around them and bring the lost home to God.
Please think about it.