When a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, there will be some major changes that take place in his life. The ungodly desires and habits of his old life will pass away (some immediately and some over time), and his friends and family will be surprised by his new conversation and behavior. A few may actually envy his “new life in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and wish that they could change their ugly behavior for the love (1 John 4:7,8), joy (John 15:11), and peace (Philippians 4:7, John 16:33) that they now see in him; others may be hateful and jealous, like Cain, who killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8) and may want to hurt or even kill the new believer (this is common in some Muslim countries). Other people that know him may say things like, “He’s just going through a stage”; “This will pass”; “I’ve known him since he was a kid, and he’s always been different and up to something”; or “Since when did he become so ‘holier than thou’ that he can’t go partying with us?”, etc. In Scripture, we see a similar example of this reaction toward Jesus Himself.

Matthew 13:54-58, Mark 6:1-6, and Luke 4:16-24 all record the unbelief, doubt, and rejection that He got in His hometown of Nazareth. The following passage comes from Matthew 13, and says, “And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then has this man all these things? And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in His own country, and in his own house.” Since even Jesus was rejected and experienced such unbelief, we should not be too surprised or disappointed if we receive the same reactions. [Sadly, Christ performed His first miracle in the area of His home town (John 2:1), but He didn’t do many other works there, because of their unbelief.]

Here is a word of caution for some new Christians. You may want your friends and family to experience what you now have, so you may be tempted to either try too hard to persuade them with your words, or you may find yourself hanging out with old companions with the purpose of trying to persuade them to become Christians. However, we must be careful that we don’t fall back into ungodly habits by going places or doing things that would not be pleasing and glorifying to God. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us that we are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?” And other Scripture tells us not to argue or strive with others. It is best to share the gospel with them, and tell them what God is doing in your life, but then, just put them in God’s hands by praying diligently for them.

Also, as I mentioned above, when you have this new relationship with Jesus, you will experience some immediate changes (for some, they no longer have some of the desires that they had before coming to Christ), but some of the other changes will take place as you grow in the Lord, and often the they will be the consequences of the choices you make as you learn to obey the teachings of Christ. In Romans 12:2 we read, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” So then, more transformation comes as we grow in the faith. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes through the hearing of the Word of God. Reading and studying God’s Word on a daily basis, and talking to God frequently will keep that relationship alive and flourishing.