I wonder how many times in our lives we make right choices, but for wrong reasons. And how does this impact our view of truth? Sometimes we don't find out until much later that our reasoning was wrong, even though we did right. I know it can result in an emptiness, that as Christians we are not supposed to experience. This leads to disillusionment.

An example that some have experienced in this, is making a decision for Christ without actually being under His conviction. His Word says "Noone can come to me unless my Father who sent me draws Him." John 6:44

I have seen the difficulty this produces in the lives of young people (with our involvement in youth ministry). Students make a decision that is based on emotion or peer pressure, then don't understand why they don't grow. Too often in churches, students have been told there is a specific age or time that they must make a commitment to Christ. They follow what they are told out of obedience to their families or elders, and lead completely fruitless lives. They are frustrated, because they don't get it.

BJ was one such young man. He had two older sisters, he had watched make decisions for Christ. Though he did not understand at the time what he was witnessing, he gained some level of understanding, as he learned about it, and watched others in the church make decisions. He decided he wanted to take part in that.

He was six years old when I sat down with him and talked through his decision, I thought (perhaps selfishly, as his dad, I was waiting for this moment) he understood. He prayed and asked Jesus to be his Savior. Then he wanted to be baptized.

He was so excited on baptism day. He was ready! When Pastor Steve stood beside him, BJ clasped his left hand with both of his. Steve was sharing about BJ's decision, and giving a brief explanation of what was happening. BJ was oblivious to those words. He was there to be baptized, and he was ready. So while Steve talked, BJ went ahead and laid back, trying to get underwater, trying to be baptized. He only succeeded in getting the back of his head wet. It truly was a comical moment.

When Steve was done talking, he finished the baptism. Beej got dunked one and a half times that morning.

Two years later, BJ joined me at a youth meeting (he was still too young to actually take part). We had a guest speaker, Afshin Ziafat. He was a Muslim convert. His family had disowned him, and cut off all contact, as a result. As he shared his testimony, BJ began to truly understand for the first time, his spiritual lostness. He prayed that night at the invitation for the Lord to save him.

He told me about it, and I was reluctant to accept what he said. After all, I had had the privilege of leading my son to Christ, and this would negate that (a little pride showing through?).

BJ's life changed after that night. His whole approach to his "walk" was filled with desire for knowledge and an understanding he did not previously have. He began sharing at school, and with anyone who would listen. If an eight year old could be radically saved... he was.

I had tried to be a good parent. I led him where I thought he needed to go... to the foot of the cross for his salvation. The trouble was, this did not coincide with the "Father drawing him." Well, his earthly father, yes, but not his heavenly one.

I praise God that in spite of my right motives, and Beej's right decision, that the Lord drew him at the right time, and changed his life, as he responded in obedience!

BJ was re-baptized at youth camp two or three years later. He knew the first time had been under false pretense, and wanted to do it right. He came out of the water with joy. He even said, "finally." He lived a life faithful to the Father, and desired to see others do likewise. He spent his life, trying to give others the same opportunity he had, to know Jesus, and to make Him known.

We can learn a great deal from this. Not that we should not share with our children. Not that we should not lead them to the foot of the cross. Just that we need to be sensitive to any lost person, and recognize that we may be a "divine encounter" for them, we may be meeting them and sharing with them, just when the Father is drawing them, through His Holy Spirit. Or, it is possible, we will be seed sowers, and salvation may come later, at the point the Father draws them.

I trust that if you find that you were like BJ, and have based your life on a decision that was made out of pure emotion or peer pressure, and have been empty and fruitless as a result, that you will take the time now to ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

May the Lord God minister to you, where you are right now!

dad