The Christian man, with a faith so bright,
Strives to be God’s man, from morning ‘til night.
He walks in obedience, with a heart so true,
Even if he back slides, he repents and returns anew.
To his Creator, he cries out in shame,
And finds divine forgiveness in Jesus’ name.
He’ll be made whole when he is resurrected,
And all of his flaws will soon be perfected.
But the nonbeliever, with a heart so cold,
Wants to be a man’s man, to have his story told.
He tries to impress with his might and his fame,
But when he falls, he swears, his father’s to blame.
He rationalizes that nobody was created perfect,
So why yearn for perfection? It’s futile and suspect.
We’ll all go into oblivion, no doubt, anyway,
So why go through the trouble to end up dismayed?
He feigns worldly success with a reprobate mind,
And chases after validation of the monetary kind.
He forgets the Father above extending His loving hand,
But settles instead for pleasures, for as long as he can.
The Christian man believes that salvation is near,
And that Jesus’ love will wipe away, every last tear.
Though he’ll have to face many stumbling blocks too,
He’ll be justified by what his Savior’s atonement will do.
By: ElRoyPoet, 2024
Anecdote: The Christian man has faith in the Creator. He strives to be a God’s man, but if he back slides, he repents and worships his Father in heaven. The Christian man believes that he will eventually be made perfect when Jesus resurrects him.
In contrast, the nonbeliever has contempt for the Creator. His ambition is to be a man’s man, but when he becomes defeated, he blames his fallen state on his biological father’s short comings. He rationalizes that, since nobody was created perfect, it is futile to imagine perfection. We will all eventually go into oblivion, anyway. Since life is short, his reprobate mind feigns worldly success for the rest of his duration.
Essay: The Christian man has faith in the Creator and strives to be a God’s man, the nonbeliever has contempt for the Creator and seeks to be a man’s man. This contrast reveals the profound impact of faith on one’s worldview, values, and behavior.
The Christian man’s faith in the Creator is evident in his repentance and worship of God when he falters. This demonstrates a deep sense of accountability and humility, as he acknowledges his mortality and seeks forgiveness from his Creator. This behavior is rooted in the biblical concept of repentance, which is essential for salvation (Acts 2:38). The Christian man’s belief in being made perfect when Jesus resurrects him also reflects his trust in God’s sovereignty and promise of redemption.
On the other hand, the nonbeliever’s contempt for the Creator is exemplified by his blame-shifting and rationalization of sin. He blames his fallen state on his biological father’s short comings, rather than taking responsibility for his own actions. This attitude is characteristic of those who reject God’s sovereignty and instead seek to justify their own sinful behavior (Romans 1:20). The nonbeliever’s excuse that nobody was created perfect and that life is too short further reinforces his lack of accountability and morality.
This contrast between the Christian man and the nonbeliever can be seen in various biblical accounts. The book of Genesis tells the story of Cain and Abel, where Cain’s rejection of God’s sovereignty leads to his downfall, while Abel’s obedience results in his righteousness (Genesis 4:1–16). Similarly, the book of Romans highlights the distinction between those who have faith in God and those who do not, with faith leading to righteousness and justification (Romans 3:21–26).
This also raises questions about the nature of humanity and our purpose on earth. The Christian man’s striving to be God’s man suggests that he sees himself as a son of God, rather than as an independent individual. This understanding is rooted in the biblical concept of being created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27), which emphasizes our dependence on God and our responsibility to glorify Him.
In contrast, the nonbeliever’s pursuit of worldly success and validation through his own efforts suggests that he sees himself as self-sufficient and independent. This attitude is reflected in Psalm 14:1, which states, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” The nonbeliever’s focus on earthly success also distracts him from his spiritual emptiness and lack of purpose (Matthew 16:26).
In conclusion, there is a profound difference between a Christian man who has faith in the Creator and a nonbeliever who has contempt for Him. The Christian man’s repentance, worship, and trust in God’s sovereignty demonstrate a deeper understanding of human nature and our purpose on earth. In contrast, the nonbeliever’s blame-shifting, rationalization, and pursuit of worldly pleasures reveal a lack of accountability and morality. Ultimately, this is what underscores the importance of faith in shaping our worldview, values, and behavior.
Commentary: When I ask nonreligious, affluent seniors if they have any regrets in their lives or if they would like to turn back the hands of time, they usually respond by saying, “Yes!” When asked why, they respond that they would like to be able to go back to their teenage years, so that they could have pursued higher education instead; or chosen a different career path, that way they could have been more financially successful. They fail to realize that they would have made the same decisions, because they were already stuck on their life trajectory, which they are living now. In other words, nothing would have changed, they would have repeated, what they perceive as the same old mistakes.
A Christian usually doesn’t have these regrets. He is grateful for his blessings. However, if I were forced to go back in time, even if I were taken all the way back to birth or born in a different body or generation — my hope remains that Jesus would still find and save me from my sins.
Final thoughts: As a citizen, I am grateful for living in the latter days, but I am also concerned about the future of Christianity. I am thankful for being born in an era where the message of Jesus Christ can be shared widely and freely. However, the fear of losing the spiritual conversion of the public and the potential curtailment of missionary efforts should be on every believer’s mind.
These two excerpts from the US Constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union” and “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” serve as a reminder of the country’s founding principles and the importance of separating church and state. While this separation has allowed for religious freedom and diversity, it also raises questions about the role of Christianity in society. As a believer, it’s natural to wonder whether the nonreligious will continue to have access to the gospel and whether missionary efforts will be hindered.
I have reservations about whether the ‘Christian’s confidence that the nonreligious don’t have to live in despair’ would still be the case. What if the nonbelievers get to the point where they are no longer interested in ‘form[ing] a more perfect Union’? What if the citizens become cynical about democracy? The concern is not just about the future of Christianity in America, but also about the potential impact on global missionary efforts. The thought of thousands of Christian missionaries being unable to share their faith with others due to societal changes or government restrictions is demoralizing. The prospect of generations of people never being afforded the opportunity to hear the gospel is disheartening.
Ultimately, it is a reminder that as Christians, we have a duty to share our faith and work towards creating a better world, even in the face of uncertainty and change.
The Problem of Those Who Have Never Heard of Christ
Satan’s story to Eve in Genesis 3 and to Jesus in Matthew 4, was that they could live independently of God, that is, they could be their own god, set their own standards, let circumstances dictate their decision. But it is a lie.
Either God controls your life by your choosing to let him, or Satan controls your life by your choosing to let him and by your choosing to just go with the flow. You and I were designed by God to be ruled by a spirit. Our choice is not whether to be ruled, but rather by which spirit we will be ruled.
So, the Christian’s life is based on decisions, the process of making deliberate right choices, without being swayed by Satan’s input into our appetites or emotions.
“In Satan’s temptation of Eve in Genesis 3 and in his temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4, we see the tactics he used and still uses with us. While varied in their details, most temptations fall into one of three categories as listed in 1 John 2:16: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Excerpts from How does Satan tempt us?
“If you are now wondering where to look for consolation, where to seek a new and better God, a new and better faith, you will surely realize, in your present loneliness and despair, that this time you must not look to external, official sources, to Bibles, pulpits, or thrones, for enlightenment. Nor to me. You can find it only in yourself. And there it is, there dwells the God who is higher and more selfless… The sages of all time have proclaimed Him, but He does not come to us from books, He lives within us, and all our knowledge of him is worthless unless He opens our inner eye. This God is in you too. He is most particularly in you, the dejected and despairing… Search where you may, no prophet or teacher can relieve you of the need to look within… Don’t confine yourself… to any other prophet or guide. Our mission is not to instruct you, to make things easier for you, to show you the way. Our mission is solely to remind you that there is a God and only one God; He dwells in your hearts, and it is there that you must seek Him out and speak with Him.” Excerpt from Hermann Hesse on Hope, the Difficult Art of Taking Responsibility, and the Wisdom of the Inner Voice
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Bible, John 3:16
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as An Atoning Sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
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