I hate it when people ask me that question. Especially when I think I’m right. Or at least I want to be right. And I really don’t like to be asked that question about something I don’t want to deal with.

Usually, when someone asks me the So-how’s-that-working-for-you? question, the answer is obvious. It’s not working for me. And they know it before asking.

But if the issue is important — especially if it’s ‘life or death’ important — I hope whoever I’m talking to will have the courage to ask me anyway. That’s what my friend did many years ago when he came into my head shop and saw me reading scripture behind the counter. He walked up to me and asked if I understood what I was reading. It was a So-how’s-that-working-for-you? question without actually saying it.

This past weekend my wife heard some ‘life or death’ questions while she was at a Community Bible Study leadership conference in Charlotte, NC.

William Fay, one of the video-conference speakers, had an interesting background. He hasn’t always revered Jesus Christ. He used to run one of the largest houses of prostitution in the U.S., according to his video. He was also involved in racketeering, bookmaking, and gambling. In addition, he was president and CEO of a multi-million-dollar, international corporation. But over the years since then he has asked thousands of people the questions below. Read them carefully and see how you would answer them:

Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs?
What do you believe about Jesus?
Do you believe there is a heaven or hell?
If you died right now, where would you go, and why?

Here is Bill Fay’s ’So-how’s-that-working-for-you?’ question, without actually saying it: Suppose what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?

If your answer is no, close this Web page and move on.

But if you’re still curious, read the following scripture passages out loud, and think about what they mean to you.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
(Romans 3:23)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23)

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
(John 3:3)

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
(John 14:6)

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”
(Romans 10:9-11)

Now, based on the scriptures you just read, answer these questions:

Are you a sinner? (“For all have sinned…”)
Do you want to be forgiven for your sins? (“For the wages of sin is death…”)
Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
Are you willing to surrender your life to Jesus Christ?
Are you ready to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and give Him your life?

If you want to invite Jesus into your life, say this simple prayer:

Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You. I want and need forgiveness for my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again. Father, I give you my life to do with as You wish. I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you’ve prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, your life will never be the same. But you must put your faith into action. Start looking today for others who believe as you do, by finding a church that believes strongly in Jesus Christ. Get plugged in so you can grow in your faith and experience God’s love regularly.

Here are a few church locators and/or directories for some of the Christian denominations:

Anglican
Assemblies of God
Baptist
Calvary Chapel
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Christian (Disciples of Christ)
Church of God International
Churches of Christ
Evangelical Covenant Church
Evangelical Free Church
Foursquare Church
Lutheran
Methodist
Presbyterian

In addition to the directories above, you will find many active, growing churches in the Yellow Pages under Churches>Non-Denominational, Churches>Independant, Churches>Charismatic, and Churches>Pentecostal.

God bless you in your new adventure with Jesus Christ. You’ve begun the ride of your life!