許多人覺得信奉宗教是件浪費時間的事，作個虔誠的教徒簡直是自找麻煩。
沒錯，今天，確實有許多所謂的虔誠教徒，但也有很多人不屑「虛無」的宗教，而對生命採取較「實際」的態度。
嗑藥族說：「我只要吞一顆（或吸一口），就萬事ＯＫ！」但是，他們萬沒想到，毒品就像癌細胞一樣腐蝕他們的身體。
也有人藉酒澆愁，他們說：「乾一杯能使我完全釋放！」然而，酗酒只導致性格愈來愈墮落、家庭分裂、所花的錢也白費了……。
另一些人更實際了，他們說：「享受性愛吧！只有性才能帶給你真正的滿足！」然而就在他們追求肉慾的同時，女朋友一個個被拋棄、婚姻遭破壞、身體因淫佚無度而衰敗……，他們仍然沒有得著滿足，肉心依舊空虛。
虔誠的教徒如何呢？最認真的猶太教徒說：「我還是沒有平安。」忠心耿耿的天主教徒：「我依然害怕死亡。」而有些一向活躍的基督徒也曾感嘆：「我已經盡力了，但似乎沒有得到我想要的。」
宗教信仰浪費時間嗎？的確！上教堂很無聊；如果上帝對你來說很不真實，那麼讀聖經、禱告也是乏味得很；就算你參與大大小小的「教會活動」，但心裏仍不滿足，那又有什麼用？許多人因此另覓他途，想從別的地方找答案，但也都失敗了。
有些人轉而求名，但有名也不快樂；有些人轉而逐利，最後卻因壓力太大而精神崩潰。
那麼，到底生命該怎麼走呢？別作一個空有儀式的宗教徒，那不僅浪費你的時間，也浪費上帝的時間。上帝不希望你用其他千百種不同的方式來逃避生命，祂要給你一樣東西，絕對不是虛假的，而是真實的。祂不是要你信奉教條，而是要你信一個人──祂的兒子耶穌基督，復活的主。耶穌曾經來到這世界，為拯救你我虛度的生命而死在十字架上。祂要進入你的生命，填補你心裏那塊空處。這就是為什麼你嘗試口種方法都不能得到解答，因為那塊空處只有耶穌能補滿。
上帝希望每一個人都認識祂，與祂建立個人的關係；祂並要居住在心裏，掌管你的生命。耶穌愛你；罪使你與祂隔絕了。別再徒勞追逐其他不能滿足你的事物，來到耶穌面前，告訴祂，你需要祂，讓耶穌進入你的生命，你就會知道什麼是真實的人生！
耶穌說：「凡勞苦擔重擔的人，可以到我這裏來，我就使你們得安息。」（太11：28）只有耶穌能給你安息──沒有別人，你願意來就祂嗎？耶穌又說：「我就是道路、真理、生命，若不藉著我，沒有人能到天父那裏去。」（約14：6）耶穌是唯一的道路，祂正在等你。現在就將你的生命交給祂手中吧！
你可以這樣禱告：「親愛的耶穌基督，我相信你是上帝的兒子，求你進入我的生命，赦免我一切的罪，作我人生的主，奉耶穌的名，阿們。」（阿們的意思是誠心所願）
Let’s face it! For you and a lot of other people, being religious is a waste of time. Becoming a religious person is an unnecessary hardship. Sure, there are lots of so-called religious people in the world today, but there are many who take a more realistic approach to life.
The drug addict says, “As soon as I take this fix, I’ll be OK!” Meanwhile the drug eats away at his body like cancer. The alcoholic says, “ I need a few drinks to help me unwind,” and yet his character is cheapened, his home divided, and his money wasted.
Many say, “Sex brings the only real satisfaction,” and while their hearts burn with lust, they cheapen girlfriends, destroy marriages, abuse themselves and still, unsatisfied, long for more.
Even among the religious, earnest Jews have said, “I still have no peace.” Devoted Catholics have said, “I still fear death.” Active Protestants have said, “I’m trying the best I can and yet it all seems so empty.”
We said religion is a waste of time, and it is. Going to church is boring and reading the Bible and praying is a chore if God isn’t real to you. After all, what’s the use of “playing church” when your heart wants other things? Many realize this and have tried other means to find the answers. And they have failed.
Some have pursued fame and in the end have said, “what’s it all for?” Some have tried fortune and have had breakdowns because of the pressures.
What’s the path of life going to be? Don’t make it formal, empty religion―that’s a waste of time. By the way, it’s also a waste of God’s time. God doesn’t want you going off in a hundred different directions. Instead God wants to give you something, and it is not a counterfeit life; it is reality. He doesn’t want you to trust a set of laws, but a person. He wants you to know His Son, Jesus Christ, who is alive right now. He came to earth and died on the cross to save you from a wasted life. He wants to come into your heart and life and fill the empty place. That is why you haven’t been able to find the answers in all those things you’ve been trying.
You were made to know God personally, living within your heart and controlling your life. Jesus loves you. Sin has kept you from Hie. Stop going in the direction you are heading. Instead, turn things over to Him. Tell Him you need Him. Let Him come into your life so that you may learn what it really means to have reality.
Jesus said, ”Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”(Matthew 11:28). Jesus is the one to come to―no one else. Will you come? Jesus also said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me”(John 14:6). There is no other way. He is waiting. Right now put your life into His hands.
