Soren Kierkegaard observes, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” There are three things to remember to put experience on your side.

A Christian’s experience commences by faith. Romans 5:1-2a reads, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand...” Faith is the key to acceptance from God and access to God. Jesus shares the following in a parable recorded in Luke 18:10-14: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The only way to have peace with God is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not by trusting in yourself.

A Christian’s experience culminates with hope. Romans 5:2b-5a reads, “and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint...” The Christian life involves the process of going from bitter affliction to blessed assurance. This is how Christians grow strong in the Lord. C. B. McCarty said, “Life with Christ is an endless hope; without Him, it is a hopeless end.”

A Christian’s experience centers in love. Romans 5:5b reads, “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” He will never abandon us. Hebrews 13:5b reads, “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Romans 8:35-39 reads, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Christian, you are God’s dearly beloved people. Remember to put experience on your side.

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.