3 differences Jesus Makes

Read 1 Thessalonians 1.

Imagine for a moment that your pastor met one of your neighbors.  As the pastor began to tell them about Jesus, the neighbor interrupted to say that they already heard the gospel from you.  That is akin to what happened to the Apostle Paul.  In verse 8, as Paul endeavored to proclaim the good news in the regions of Macedonia and Achaia, they had already heard the message from the Thessalonians.

But it was not only the words of the message that had been presented.  These Thessalonians backed it up with unmistakable evidences of their changed lives.  When one embraces a true faith in Christ, they become a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17).  What were those noticeable differences?  How had Jesus transformed them?

In verses 9 and 10, we have their public testimony, not from them but, repeated by those who knew them.
1. They were headed in a new direction.
Feeling sorry for one's sin is not enough.  The Scriptures consistently calls for repentance; that is, making a 180 degree turn in life direction.  They had turned their backs on their old life and everyone knew it.  This involved a decisive break from their sin and the sinful habits of their past.  "For a godly sorrow produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret..." (2 Corinthians 7:10)

2. They worshiped a new Deity.
Before, they had given themselves to the false gods of their culture.  The deities of Greek Mythology were just that--myths.  The idols were only pieces of wood or other materials made by human hands.  The so-called spiritual deities had been made-up by human imagination.  But when they heard the message of Jesus, they turned from those empty and sinful practices to a personal relationship with the one and only Living God.  He alone can forgive and cleanse from sin.  Only the Lord of Heaven personally sees, hears, knows, cares, and is actively present in our daily lives.  "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god." (Isaiah 44:6)

3. They received a new destiny.
A true believer in Jesus has been saved from the eternal wrath of God.  Faith in the resurrected Christ delivers us.  While we remain on earth for a relatively few years, we are to be displaying our new life and anticipating the return of Jesus.  The second coming of Christ is mentioned about once in every thirteen verses in the New Testament.  Every chapter in 1 Thessalonians ends with the hope of Christ's return.  We who personally know Jesus, have been saved, delivered from the awful judgment of God, and have been given an eternal hope and a home in heaven. 

Who would not desire that change in their destiny?