Indeed, parents must guide as mentors, the church must teach, and pastors must shepherd. Yet in the end, everything comes back to each individual. If a person only lives a moral life like the Israelites, that does not necessarily mean they have a personal relationship with God. The law can be taught without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But to be restored to God’s original design, according to the purpose of salvation that God Himself works out, there must be a direct encounter between God and each individual. Therefore, if parents have never had a personal encounter with God, it is difficult to imagine the spiritual state of their children, which is why we must make a choice. Do not become a Christian merely by inheritance — do not become a Christian without choosing and without commitment.
The nation of Israel had a covenant with God. They were forbidden to worship any other god besides Elohim Yahweh, and were forbidden to live outside the Torah. Living outside the Torah meant rebellion against God. History shows how severely God disciplined His people when they betrayed and disobeyed His law. They had to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant between them and God. But for Christians today, the Bible declares that we must be circumcised in heart, not physically. Our hearts must be broken and cleansed. For if we do not follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we are denying the covenant itself, because faith is obedience to God’s will.
That is why in Hebrews 12, we find a call to a race that must be run. What hinders us is not the race itself, but the burdens and sins — the burden of attachment to the world and the sin of attachment to the flesh. Laying aside these burdens and sins is the first step, not the final goal. The true race is to fix our eyes on Jesus, who brings our faith to perfection (Hebrews 12:2). Perfect faith is faith that imitates the obedience of Christ — obedience unto death, even death on the cross.
Ironically, many Christians do not understand this. That is why not a few turn away from the faith. They do not know that we are bound by an eternal covenant with God through the death of Jesus Christ. Through His blood, we are justified and brought into the new covenant. Therefore, we must follow in the footsteps of Christ. From the moment we are born, we already carry the status “not of this world. So do not live as an original creation of God only to die as an imitation of the world.
Becoming a Christian, in itself, is not difficult. If someone is born into a Christian family, being a Christian by religion is not hard. They can attend worship services every week, be actively involved in the church, and even serve as an elder. Some go on to study theology, become pastors, seminary lecturers, or leaders within their denominations. None of that is difficult. But to follow Jesus — that is a choice. Following Jesus is not going along with religious routines; it is walking the narrow path that requires courage and personal decision.
That is why Matthew 7:21–23 makes clear whom the Lord Jesus recognizes: only those who do the will of the Father. Even if someone identifies as Christian, if they do not do the Father’s will, they are not known by the Lord. Even if they are church activists, elders, or even pastors, without doing God’s will, all of it is in vain. Doing the will of the Father is not something inherited automatically; it is the result of personal choice and struggle. Thus, Luke 13:23-24 says, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many will try to enter and will not be able.” These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus Himself, when He was asked, “Lord, will only a few be saved?“
Therefore, we must realize the great grace that we were born as Christians. Or perhaps we became Christians because of our spouse — even that is not by accident. But now, choose to follow Christ consciously. Strive. Being a Christian is a gift, but being a true follower of Christ is a choice. Do not be content to be a Christian without choosing, for only those who choose to live in God’s will will be known and glorified together with Christ.