Dear Mattox,
I want to take a minute and document what happened today. Today was a special day. Today, you invited Jesus into your heart. This is what happened.
We woke up early, you didn't eat much breakfast, and off we went to swim. The day started out pretty typical. However, while riding in the car, you asked me a very interesting question. "Mom, is Jesus in my heart or is He in Heaven?" "Mattox," I said, "that is a very good question. God is everywhere, and Jesus can live in your heart, but you have to invite him there." You said, "I want Jesus to live in my heart." I answered, "Ok, well, when you pray to God, tell him that you know you don't do everything that is right, and you want Jesus to come into your life to help you do good, and that you want to spend forever with Him." You said, "Mom, I want YOU to say that prayer for me." I said, "Mattox, I can't say that prayer for you. You have to do that for yourself." I was expecting you to leave it at that....but you didn't. You said, "Ok, well, what's the first part again?" Mattox, today you told God that you know you aren't perfect. You told him that you want Jesus to live in your heart, forgive you, and spend forever with you. That is such a big deal!
After swim, I reminded you that you will never have to ask Jesus into your heart again. Once you do it once, you don't have to do it again. If you are good or bad, it doesn't ever change the fact that Jesus is in your heart. Even if you did it at such an early age. I feel this is important, because I can PROMISE you the Devil will try to convince you otherwise. He will tell you at various points in your life, that you didn't have enough information, or that you were too young to make such a decision, or that you only did it because we raised you to believe that. I wanted to give you the truth. So, here it is.
The truth is, none of us have all the information. Anyone who walks with the Lord will do so blindly AT TIMES in their life. God does not always tell us how things will work out before he directs us to walk in a particular direction. We rarely have the answers we need at the time we make our decision to obey Christ or not. Today, you knew in your little heart that you needed Christ and wanted Christ, and so you responded. I pray that today will not be the exception, but that when you feel a tug on your heart, that you always choose Christ.
Are you old enough to make this decision? I would say Yes! Do you know how children are saved?......Answer: THE SAME WAY ADULTS ARE SAVED.
John 3:16-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him, will not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 1:12-Yet to ALL who did receive him, to THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, he gave the right to become children of God
Romans 10:9,10-If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
2Peter 3:9-The Lord is not slow to keep his promise, as some would understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting ANYONE to perish, but EVERYONE to come to repentance.
Finally, Matthew 18:6 says "If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
Mattox, we HAVE raised you to believe in Christ. No doubt about that. I want you to know the gift God offers, how to grow in Him, and how to live the life He wants for you. However, I do hope that there is a time in your life where you do question your faith. Where you do doubt and challenge God and his word. I know that may seem odd, but I believe too many Christians are scared to question things. Some of my greatest growth came from periods of doubt. I pray above all, that you seek TRUTH and you give God a fair shot at proving to you His love over and over again. He will. I pray you will ask Him hard questions that hold you back from jumping all in. Guess what, He can handle it. He can handle any scientific theory, study, or anything else that is causing you to question Him. Just remember this....Jesus NEVER engaged in a debate in order to win souls. He merely revealed who he was, and let people decide if they wanted to follow Him. That has not changed. He still shows up, and asks us to respond.
I love you Mattox.
-Mom
