Author-pastor JD Greear asks this question in his book of the same title.  He shares that he should have won the Guinness book of records for numerous of times asking Jesus into his heart – over and over. Somehow, no matter how compelling the invitational call was, he just couldn’t be sure the “sinner’s prayer” actually “stuck.” It was a sort of insecure assurance.

 

I suspect Greear has a considerable amount of competition for that Guinness award.  Across the world, well-meaning pastors, evangelists, and friends invite people to make a decision to receive Jesus into their heart. And Greear points out it has scriptural support. John 1:12 says we must receive Jesus, meaning take hold of him, not just put him on the shelf. Paul offers a prayer in Ephesians 3:17 that Jesus will strengthen us with power through his Spirit . . . “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts.”

 

So where’s the problem?

 

Part of it is that research consistently reveals half the people who identify with being “born again” admit to the same lifestyle as nonbelievers, about half of their marriages end in divorce, about half or more say that how much money they make influences their view of self worth, many admit to rarely reading the bible… The list goes on to reveal that there isn’t much evidence for a faith changing life based on saying a prayer. That isn’t to say people don’t experience genuine a genuine, transformational experience when surrendering to Jesus in a simple prayer of confession and repentance. Many do. But there is more than that.

 

Another problem may be that too often the focus is on “getting saved” by a merciful Savior and not on submitting to the Lordship of Jesus. We talk about    enjoying the abundant life with Jesus but tend to skip over the part Jesus said was essential to the life of a Christian: Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me. Most, if not all the books of the New Testament refer to the suffering that comes with faith. But that’s not the popular message. We like comfortable Christianity, complete with a Jesus who calms every storm we might face. I wonder if he doesn’t more often calm the sailor in the fiercest moments of the storm.

 

The first followers of Jesus didn’t make a decision and then go on with life as usual. They surrendered all they had to follow him. Jefferson Bethke observes, “Real grace changes you. Stop asking Jesus into your heart and start asking him to change your heart.” Actually, I think we should do both. We should ask him into our heart (I.e. our entire life) AND ask him to change our heart too…and if necessary to do open heart surgery. In a sense, we’re asking for a heart transplant, surrendering our often deceitful heart for his perfectly loving one. We should “receive” him AND follow him. We should come to him in prayer, not just to receive gifts, but to praise and honor the gift giver.

 

What does “asking Jesus to come into your heart” mean to you? When asked to share your testimony, do you tend to reflect back on something that happened years ago or are you ready to share he has done and continues to do since then?

 

Deny self, pick up your cross and (keep) following him with increasing passion. It’s not a one time event but rather a daily process.