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To be a Christian is to be a perpetual pilgrim. There is no end to being a Christian because one is always on a quest for deeper intimacy with God.

To Seek God Diligently

But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

– Hebrews 11:6

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The Steps to Enlightenment

The Christian’s journey is marked by various stages of spiritual awakening. As one grows in their faith, they come closer to understanding the love and grace of God. While the specificities of individual excursions towards God are varied–with no experience truly similar to one another–there are common patterns and themes that come about. Waking up as a Christian is wonderful because while you may find yourself in communion with others, your journey is yours and yours alone. This is a reflection of God’s infinite and multifarious love that contains every atom in the universe. All Christians stand on a web of connection and inspiration with God at the center of everything. All believers have the capacity to wake up, learn of their deficiencies, and bring themselves closer to enlightenment–if only they are willing to.

Stage 1: Encounter and Conviction

The first stage of waking up as a Christian comes with first encountering God. This may happen in any number of ways. The encounter can be a personal event, a discovery of a powerful message, or an acknowledgment of one’s internal spiritual drought. There is an infinity of variations to meeting God, for He is the Infinite. Regardless, one comes to this situation when one is filled with a sense of spiritual emptiness and a deep longing for this void to be filled. After nights of yearning, one is led to the realization of their own sins and the need for forgiveness from the highest arbiter–God. It is only then that the awareness of God’s enduring presence and love grows–and with this awareness, the need for salvation.

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Stage 2: Conversion and Commitment

To be aware of God’s love and grace is to be aware that He calls upon all of us all the time. He waits for us to answer and commit ourselves to the hard work of being Christian. Thus, one must have a desire to follow Jesus and live according to his teachings. This involves the denunciation of sin and all its forms, the attending of mass, and other activities of spiritual significance. This is a period of repentance and baptism. This is the time to declare to the world that one is a devout follower of Christ! When you actually utter your oath to follow God, you will soon know the relief that comes with it and the soothing sense of peace and joy.

Stage 3: Discipleship and Growth

When one has already made the conscious decision to follow Christ and his teachings, their faith quietly grows and develops until it blooms into a desire for one to better understand who God is and what they–as individuals–can do to better live their lives according to His ineffable plans. This is the stage of discipleship. The time when one is most concerned with deepening their relationship with God and becoming an instrument of His will. The most common activity that occurs during this stage is long hours of reading the Bible and meditation on its holy words. Through understanding the scriptures better, one is more able to make a difference in the world and mature to be a good Christian.

Stage 4: Contemplation and Union

Christians may believe that they are sailing smoothly on their journey toward God, but they will inevitably encounter many obstacles. One is either tempted to sin or thrown into doubt. Tribulation is and always will be part of the Christian experience. Was Christ himself not tempted by Satan? Was he not without questions when he was in Gethsemane? Do not break and have faith. What happens after is to become a witness and make one’s life a testimony to God’s love and grace.

Julius Mosley II is a great witness to the wonders and magnanimity of God. His book Living Life with Blinders On: Living Life As God Intended is his testimony of faith. Click here to grab a copy now.