Lately I have had the opportunity to think more about my Christian journey. The old gospel song 'Certainly Lord' has figured into that conversation. The first verse is:
Have you got good religion,
Cert’nly, Lord!
Have you got good religion,
Cert’nly, Lord!
Have you got good religion?
Cert’nly, Lord!
Cert’nly, cert’nly, cert’nly Lord!
Other verses asked if one loved everybody, have been converted, have been to the water, and have been baptized.
The way the verses were listed it would seem like a logical progression of activity in the Christian journey, but I realize that that is not necessarily true.
For me the Christian journey has not been so straight forward. Sure I 'got religion' and was baptized at an early age, but I didn't really understand what it means to be a true follower of Christ at the time. It was through my living that I began to realize that this experience was not just about being good and following the rules, it was and is about a true relationship with Jesus Christ. It's pretty easy to go to church on Sunday and not break too many of The Ten Commandments during the week. But it is a lot harder to surrender your will to Jesus Christ and live according to the way God wants you to live, It's pretty easy to do good deeds and be a model church worker or even leader. But it's a lot harder to trust God with every aspect of your life.
I believe that most of us would agree that 'life happens' and when it does, our relationships, even with our creator, can change. For me life has happened a lot in the past sixteen months. And while I can proudly say that I am a Christian, there were many times of fear and doubt that crept into my circumstances. God knows that we are human. We can lose or faith, our focus, and even stumble in this journey called life. But through it all, God continues to love us, bless us, take care of us, even when God's presence seems so far away.
I think some other verses could be added to 'Certainly Lord'; do you trust in the Lord, and are you walking in faith would be two excellent options. But my favorite would be; do you have a good relationship. With all of my faults and with all of my fears, I believe that I can still say, Certainly Lord!