After Paul made his impassioned defense before Agrippa, and he pressed Agrippa about his own belief in the acts of Jesus, Agrippa told Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28).
There’s no evidence that Agrippa ever became a Christian. There’s even a question about his sincerity when he made the remark about “little persuasion.” Many others since that time have questioned the value of becoming a Christian. They want to know what reason(s) there might be to take such a step. Let me share three good reasons why you need to be a Christian.
First, there’s your past. Romans 3:23 declares that “all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” The wages of those sins is death, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). In another context, Paul said we’re dead in sin but can be made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-3).
Second, there’s your present. You only have a promise of the present time. What you accomplish for now and eternity has to be accomplished today. James encourages that our lives are short and uncertain (James 4:13-14). In the present, you should enrich your life with joy. But how do you do that? There’s a ton of ways, but the Ethiopian eunuch and the Philippian hailer (Acts 8:39; 16:34) both rejoiced because they were Christians. You’re going to be able to rejoice because of the peace that accompanies following Christ (Philippians 4:7). You’re able to follow Christ and unlock the treasures of a satisfied life through the Bible. This is where God revealed His “exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4). Learn them and let them enhance your existence here!
Third, there’s your future. One day God will bring this world to an end (2 Peter 3:10). When that happens there will be the great judgment from God: “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God … And anyone not found written in the Book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12-15). Mark records the words of Jesus after He commented on spiritual devotion: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). In short, your future is judgment, so you need to think about your future!
There’s so many skeptical people out there who can’t see the benefit of the Bible. In fact, they think it’s ridiculous to believe it. But if you can be convinced that Scripture is real and true, then you’re going to find that there’s no good reason for remaining out of Christ.
Adapted from Leroy Sedgwick