Are you truly converted? What a question, of course I'm converted! I do what scripture says (or, in the words of the self righteous Pharisee, "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess"). The question, however, is "How can you know if you are truly converted?"

First of all, what is conversion? Webster's Dictionary defines the verb convert as "to turn from one belief or course to another; to transform or change," but how does God define conversion? There are several examples in the Bible of people who convert or change their behavior but is the changing of behavior the only thing required for conversion? In the book of Jonah is related the story of the warning of impending doom to come on the people of Nineveh. They changed their behavior but were they really converted? "So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them"(Jonah 3:5). Continuing in verse 10, "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them- and He did it not."

We see evidence of God having mercy on them for His own purpose when God states to Jonah: "And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?" (Jonah 4:11).

In Matthew, Christ also mentioned the repentance of Nineveh as an example against the scribes and Pharisees who sought from Him a sign of His Messiahship. "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here" (Matt. 12:41).

Just because the men of Nineveh listened to God's warning and changed their behavior doesn't mean they were converted to God's way of life. In 2 Kings we see evidence that whatever amount of repentance took place at Jonah's preaching, it was not long lasting because just a few generations later there were signs that the old ways had returned. During the reign of Hezekiah, after God defended Jerusalem against the impending siege of the king of Assyria, we read, "So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead" (2 Kings 19:36-37).

Furthermore, we must ask if conversion is a discreet act occurring at one time or if it is a process occurring over a period of time. In the study of God's Word, we will find that it is both. In the second chapter of Acts, after Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, he was asked by his audience what was required for conversion. "Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brethren, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself " (Acts 2:37- 39 NASB).

So, there is an action that is required in addition to the change in behavior exemplified through repentance. It is the commitment demonstrated through the physical act of baptism. The promised reward for that demonstration of commitment is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Is there more scriptural evidence that conversion is a discreet act happening at one point in time? Yes, Christ speaks of the time when His disciples would be converted. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31-32). Christ was speaking of a definite time when Peter would be converted and he was telling Peter what He expected him to do when that time came.

It's not, however, only a change in behavior that's required. What's required is a specific type of behavior according to a specific code of conduct outlined in the law of God. John the Baptist not only specified the necessity of repentance and baptism that were required for conversion but got to the heart of the matter when he addressed the mindset or motivation that is required for conversion. Speaking to the hypocritical Pharisees, he said: "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire: Whose fan [the Greek word is ptuon: a winnowing- fork] is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the gamer; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Mat. 3:8-12).

There is also much evidence that conversion is a process occurring over a period of time. Christ very clearly states: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3). The word ‘become' denotes a process of achievement over a period of time.

In several parables, Christ describes fruits which must be developed in all of us over a period of time. In the parable of the sower, Christ states: "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Mat 13:23).

Again, in slightly different language, speaking both of the outward achievement of good and the inward mindset and motivation for that good, Christ states: "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15).

Therefore, our achievements, whether they be good or bad are observable, both by others and by ourselves. Christ speaks of both kinds of fruits. "You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit- but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:16-20).

What is that good fruit? Paul defines the good fruits which God desires as "the fruit of the spirit." "But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-25 NASB).

So, conversion requires an outward expression of commitment to God demonstrated through repentance and the physical act of baptism. It also requires an inward commitment to God demonstrated by living according to the law of God. By that sure standard of conduct we can measure and examine ourselves. We have as signposts along the way the fruits we bear which give us both positive and negative feedback.

We can see, however, that mere endurance is not enough. It is endurance with righteous obedience that is really required. "When I say to the righteous he will surely live, and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered but in that same iniquity of his which he has committed he will die" (Ezek. 33:13 NASB)

Therefore, we see that it's the end of the matter that really counts. "But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,' and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness, if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he will surely live; he shall not die. None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he will surely live" (Ezek. 33:14-16 NASB).

The world is full of deception. We know from Revelation 12:9 that Satan deceives the whole world. We can be deceived, too, We can be deceived by other people or we can choose to deceive ourselves. We will not know for sure whether we are truly converted until the final harvest as described in the parable of the tares. "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!' And the slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?' But he said, ‘No; lest while you are gathering up the tares, you may root up the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers,' First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up but gather the wheat into my barn" (Matt. 13:24-30 NASB). We can see that it's only at the final harvest that the reapers are able to tell for sure and separate for sure the tares from the wheat.

So, is good enough ever good enough? The answer is "NO." Paul tells us: "And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6: 9-10).

Speaking to the unconverted of humanity, God states through Isaiah: "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:7-9 NIV).

Paul addresses the difference between our human minds and the mind of God. "For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."(Rom 8:6-14). Again Paul states: "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16).

True Christian conversion is the complete changing of the human mind from the physical level of human carnality to the spiritual level of God's mind. It is not complete until the final harvest and the change that awaits us at Christ's return. In the mean time, we need to remain diligent in obedience to God's laws, performance of good works and development of more of the mind of Christ through the power of the gift of God's spirit.

"Our President proclaimed June the month of "celebrating homosexuality." I think he must be nuts. He designed a whole month for this? You only get a day if your Irish! President Clinton's proclamations said the business, families and all of us should "celebrate" the fact that some people cannot or will not mate with members of the opposite sex, be married and have children. In my opinion, that is not something to celebrate. Its very sad, and I have great compassion for homosexuals. So, this astonishing proclamation that directs Americans not to accept homosexuality, not to tolerate it, but rather to celebrate!

Talk about the power of ideology run amok! Since when do people have a "right" to practice deviant sexual behavior. The answer is, rights are not involved here. There is only the rhetoric of rights and the cover of tolerance that sends everyone, including the president of the United States, running for cover, not caring that our children are paying a price for our cowardice! We all just want to put gas in the car, go to work, see a movie, get some sleep. We worship convenience and self gratification."