Born Again Christian: American Made, Built to Last

Yesterday, I broke a pipe wrench. I've never heard of that happening before.

I'm Pastor Nathan Harding, and I believe God was directing me to write this article when this happened.

The wrench that broke was made in Spain. I was using it alongside another wrench, and when I really needed leverage on a difficult bolt, the one made in Spain snapped. Just like that. It got me thinking about quality and what you can count on when it really matters. There's a reason people still trust American-made tools: they're built to last

when you need them most.

As I thought about the broken pieces, God spoke to my heart:

"This is what happens when people are given something of lesser value. You have the real God to offer: salvation that never breaks. What I give lasts forever."

You see, there's a lot of cheap, imported religion out there that looks good on the surface but breaks apart when life gets tough. But the real thing? The authentic, American-made, born-again godly faith that built this country? That's built to last.

Maybe you've tried the knockoff version. Maybe you grew up with it, or gave it a shot as an adult, and it let you down when you needed it most. The people seemed fake, the promises felt empty, and you walked away thinking Christianity just doesn't work.

I get it. But here's what I want you to consider: what if what you experienced wasn't the real thing at all?

What You Actually Experienced Wasn't the Real Thing

You know the difference between some cheap tool made overseas and real American-made steel? The cheap one looks decent enough in the package, but the first time you really need it, the handle breaks or the blade won't hold an edge. Meanwhile, that American-made tool your grandfather passed down still works like the day he bought it.

We've all learned this lesson the hard way, right? And once you've been burned by junk, you get pretty careful about what you trust.

Think about it this way: if the first pipe wrench you ever used was made with cheap metal, you might think wrenches are terrible. But then you get your hands on the real deal, and suddenly you understand what you've been missing. The bad product didn't make wrenches worthless. You just hadn't experienced what they're supposed to be like.

That's exactly what happened with your church experience. And here's the crazy part: the Bible actually warns us this would happen. Romans 3:4 basically says, "Let God be true, even if every single human being is a liar." In other words, don't judge God by the people who claim to represent Him, because we're all going to mess it up sometimes.

But here's the real issue: it's not about the religion or the building or the denomination. It's about people who just carry the name "Christian" versus those who actually have the Holy Spirit guiding their lives.

The Bible warns us about this. Paul said, "Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). He didn't ask people to follow him because he was great, but because he was following someone who was. And Jesus told us, "You shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).

The key isn't avoiding all Christians. It's learning to follow people who are truly led by the Holy Spirit, not just those who claim the title.

The real Jesus spent most of His time calling out religious hypocrites and hanging out with the people that "good Christians" avoided. When people were drowning in guilt and shame, He didn't pile on more rules. He threw them a lifeline: "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

What You're Really Missing Out On

So what is the real thing actually like? Honestly, it's everything you've been searching for: love that doesn't depend on your performance, purpose that actually matters, and a peace that doesn't evaporate the moment life gets hard.

You know what's interesting? Have you ever noticed that the best relationships in your life are with people who genuinely care about God? I'm not talking about the ones who just talk about it on Sundays. I mean the people who actually live it out.

Here's something most people don't want to admit: those failed relationships you've had? A lot of them crashed and burned because God wasn't at the center of them. When people are guided by selfishness instead of God's love, relationships become all about "what's in it for me." But when you find someone whose heart has been genuinely transformed by God, everything's different. That's because God turns selfish hearts into loving ones.

And here's another thing: when you follow God, His guidelines aren't like government red tape that seems designed to make your life harder. They're more like the fence around a pasture: not there to keep you trapped, but to keep you safe and make sure you don't wander off a cliff in the dark.

Following Jesus isn't about gritting your teeth through some impossible checklist. It's about trading the exhausting weight of guilt, anxiety, and that constant feeling that something's missing for the freedom that comes from knowing you're completely forgiven and unconditionally loved.

The Invitation You've Been Waiting For

Now, here's where this gets interesting. God isn't some desperate person calling you ten times a day trying to get you to buy something you don't want. He's not begging for your attention.

He's more like a treasure that's been buried in a field (invaluable beyond measure, but you have to go find it). He's like a wealthy man who's invited you to the biggest barbecue of the year, but you actually have to show up to enjoy the feast.

The invitation is real. The treasure is there. But it does require you to take that step.

You know how sometimes the best opportunities in life require us to actually do something about them? This is one of those moments. Every day you put it off is another day you're missing out on the peace and joy that could be yours.

The Bible says, "Today is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). Not someday when everything's perfect. Today.

The Decision That Transforms Everything

So here's what I want you to consider: Stop letting other people's failures rob you of the relationship God wants to have with you.

I know what you might be thinking: "But what about all the stuff I'd have to give up? What's this going to cost me?"

Here's what most people don't realize: the things you think you'd have to sacrifice aren't treasures. They're weights. You know that feeling when you're carrying too much stuff and someone offers to help? That's what this is like.

Paul tells us to lay aside every weight and sin that so easily entangles us, and Peter says to cast all our cares on Jesus because He cares for us. If something in your life is actually worth keeping, He'll help you carry it. If it's holding you back from His best for you, He'll free you from it. And God promised through Moses that when you follow after Him, His blessings don't just trickle down. They catch up and overtake you.

You're not giving up freedom. You're trading the knockoff version for the real thing.

Right now, you're standing at a crossroads. You can keep running from God because some people did a terrible job representing Him, or you can take the step that transforms everything. This isn't just about giving church another try. This is about where you spend eternity.

The question isn't whether God is real. He is. The question isn't whether He loves you. He absolutely does. The question is: What are you going to do about it?

Don't let fear, pride, or past hurts keep you from the most important decision you'll ever make. Give your life to Jesus. Today. Right now.

Here's how this works. Start with this prayer, and I mean it: don't just read it, actually pray it:

"God, I believe you're real and that you love me. I know my past experiences with church weren't really about you. They were about broken people who didn't represent you well. I'm ready to let you guide my life. Forgive me for doing wrong things and come into my heart. I want Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Transform me from the inside out."

If you just prayed that prayer and meant it, congratulations. Everything just became new. You are now a child of God.

You're not only praying a prayer - you're declaring spiritual independence from Satan's authority over your life. You're telling the devil "Don't tread on me anymore" and when he tries to take back your faith, your peace, your freedom, your response is "Molon Labe" - come and try. God doesn't just deliver you - He empowers you to defend what He's given you.

American Made - Heaven Sent

But here's the thing about relationships: they need to grow. And so does your relationship with God! That's why I want to invite you to take the next step. We're hosting a special gathering at the La Purisima Retreat Center in Hereford, Arizona, September 18-21, where you can connect with other people who've made the same decision and learn what this new life looks like. Details are at palominas.church/fellowship.

Even more importantly, I invite you to join us for worship at Palominas Chapel Church of God. This isn't about religion; it's about relationship. And relationships grow when you're around other people who encourage you and help you follow God.

If you prayed that prayer, I want to hear from you! Please contact me through our website at palominas.church to let me know. I'd love to pray with you and help you figure out what comes next in this incredible journey.

And here's my final request: if this message hit home for you, please forward it to everyone you know who could benefit from reading it. You never know who's been waiting for exactly this invitation to discover the real Jesus.

What an incredible journey this can be - not just for this life, but for all eternity!