I was thinking about a man I knew the other day, and how everyone liked
him. It seemed no one ever had a bad word to say about him, he seemed friendly
enough, and inoffensive. In a way I admired the guy, as I have a list of
enemies, or those who oppose me, and even my writings, which can be
disheartening. But as I was thinking about the man, it dawned on me why he was
so well liked, and it was a disappointing thought. Quite simply, he never stood
for anything, he never took an opposing view on anything, went along with
whatever the crowd did. He always fit in, so no one had any reason to get upset
with him. And it made me very sad, for with no firm belief system, he actually
stood for nothing except himself. I loved the guy, but he hid what views he
had, or just agreed with the crowd he was in. Skillfully avoiding any arguments
or confrontations. Without a firm belief system, he really was all over the
board, as long as the two competing sides never met. Forever neutral, never
revving his engine or making noise. I don’t think I could ever live that
way.
Like those who voice opinions or take sides, I can become an easy target.
Once you decide on something, whether it be Harley vs. Indian, Honda vs. Suzuki,
latte over expresso, or veggies over meat, you will automatically incur
someone’s wrath. Someone will not agree with you, and worse case get defensive
and attack. Very few will listen to why we believe what we do, it is easier to
attack. But how many base their lives on opinions rather than facts? How many
rather be known as a peace loving person instead of a trouble maker? Which
category do you fit in? How strongly do you believe in what you believe?
The moment you come to Christ it is like a huge target is pinned on your
back, and the world, the flesh, and the devil are poised to attack. Suddenly
you have morals, you stand for someone, and you have a relationship with God.
Early on I was disillusioned when friends turned from me, or told me they now
couldn’t trust me. They did when we did drugs, got drunk, chased and caught
women, I was respected by them, but now since I had Jesus, they distanced
themselves from me, I couldn’t be trusted. What a shock, what a dichotomy. My
value system now had value, and upset them. I never preached, but sometimes
just the sight of my Bible would set them off. I was learning how darkness
could not stand in the light, and I was that light Jesus talked of. Suddenly I
was dangerous to them and their lifestyle... I was saved!
And a bit confused, as my peace loving hippie friends thought it was all
about singing Cum By Ya, and we all got along. We were to be like minded men as
the church told me. But scripture revealed to me that Jesus came to separate
the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the chaff. Not in hate, but because he
loved us, and didn’t want us to go to hell. He wanted us to change via his
spirit, to put away the old and dangerous ways, to change course, to repent, and
live Godly, to inherit eternal life, not damnation. I was to put away the old
things, I was a new creature in Christ, a new man, and the old man had to die.
Sin was that old man, Jesus killed him on the cross, now it was choice, Jesus or
the devil, and in either choice my future would be set. With Jesus I got
eternal life, on earth as it is in heaven, and peace. The problems of life
still existed, but now I didn’t face them alone, and slowly my life became all
about Jesus, instead of all about me. And I began to make enemies, which
bothered me, wasn’t Jesus about love? But he also said when we take a stand for
him, we will become a target, be ready to be persecuted, prejudiced, judged
differently, and hated, all because of him. It wasn’t the Jesus the old
religion had told me of, and I found out how tough Jesus really was. And also
how tender. Tough by hanging on a cross, tormented by those he came to save,
tender by his love for me while there. Being a Christian is not easy, but
becoming one is.
A certain integrity comes with making a choice, and when Jesus is the
choice, you gain the integrity of God. You gain access to him directly, and the
relationship becomes personal. God is not a higher power, the big guy in the
sky, not a she or without gender, but a spirit who must be worshipped as such.
And Jesus is the only way, and by his spirit we can fellowship with him. Not
multiple choice or an essay, not pleading your case before a heavenly tribunal,
but having an advocate who stood in for us, and showing us how perfect love
demands a choice. When we understand who Jesus is, then we will understand why
he came. So he made the gospel simple so we can get it, and free so we can
afford it. And available 24/7, not just on Sunday. With the promise that if we
represent him on earth, on judgment day after death he will represent us then.
Your today will have a direct effect on your tomorrow.....
When Three Dog Night sang Easy to be Hard, they sang of “the be in crowd,”
the clique, the good looking and stylish ones. The ones your parents hoped you
became like. How many parents wanted you to be like Jesus? And give up the
ways of the world? Being popular demands a price from you that some day you
will not be able to cover. The price God demands has already been paid by
Jesus. How can people be so selfish?
Darkness will never be able to stand in the light. Take a look at where
you are now, an absence of shadows may tell you more than you will admit to.
There is a reason they only come out at night, a reason why some are more
popular than others, a reason why some seek earthly goods and rewards over
eternity with God. God lets you make the choice, and saying nothing is saying
no to him. Salvation is a private personal intimate choice we make. It is
between you and God, but will show to the world. But it will also show to God.
Look around, isn’t life hard enough? Don’t you need a rest from the pressures
and things that weigh you down? Jesus’ offer still stands, don’t be so popular
you miss heaven for hell. Proverbs warns us to not put our ear to the wall
because we may not like what we hear. All walls have ears, what are you telling
them? What are they hearing? What will they repeat about you? Facebook or
face God. He was such a nice guy but...is no way to be remembered, standing for
Jesus and his love is. We will be known as Christians by his love, and your
message is?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com