Nine decisions? I bet there were a lot more than that made but they probably centered more around where folks were going to eat after church...If...it ever lets out. (HA!) - Admit it...we’ve been conditioned over the years to endure preaching for only so long. Is it not funny how we can find fault with one group of people for doing something that we are guilty of doing ourselves-like be ‘conditioned’? Remember awhile back where so many folks were rolling their eyes at people who wore mask to attempt to help slow the spread of the virus. The term ‘sheeple’ was tossed out frequently...they saw this as the government coming after them to ‘condition’ them’. I only mention that because those very same people have been ‘conditioned’ themselves as they sit on church pews for 30 minutes and when the clock gets close to noon, they get restless and hungry and anxious to get about their day.
I use this as an example because I read just yesterday in the gospel of Mark where Jesus was compelled to do another mass feeding by multiplying some loaves of bread. And you know why? The people had sat and listened to him for THREE days...and never had a bite to eat! (8:2). When people say they ‘long for the good old days’ or sing “give me that old time religion”, I am pretty sure they don’t want that drastic of a change! ;-)
But back to that ‘decision making’. Yes, I understand what the expression means. It’s a commonly used term in many churches that suggest ‘people came forward’ to an altar at the close of a church service and the idea is those nine folks ‘got saved’ as they ‘made a decision for Christ’. And let’s not forget those ‘re-dedications’ I mentioned yesterday as well that we like to count.
But when someone (perhaps you included) makes a ‘decision for Christ’...do we really make clear in that moment what one is actually “deciding” to do? I mean, we sing that old hymn- “I have decided to follow Jesus...” but even that remains somewhat unclear as to what we are actually signing up for. Years ago, when I would sit down with a couple for premarital counseling prior to officiating their wedding...I would look at them and smile and tell them there was really, little I could do to prepare them for the next 40-50 years of being a couple. I mean...how daunting is that? (yes...there are basic things to address...but IFKYK)
One of the first things I would tell them is they were about to commit a ‘VUI’ – ‘vowing under the influence’ – Yes, the influence of all these warm fuzzy feelings of love and passion. Let’s be honest here...when people stand up before God, family, and friends in such a setting...they are making the most outrageous promise or ‘vows’ to “love one another for the rest of their lives through thick and thin...better or worse”. And they never bat an eye. My point is, how many of you really knew what you were signing up for when you were married? We are told in scripture that it is better to NOT make a vow, than it is to make one and then not fulfill it. (Ecc. 5:5)
But when you ‘joined the church’ or ‘made a decision’ to follow or even ‘surrender’ your heart/life to Jesus...did you really read all the ‘small print’? Because all that small print is pretty significant and for many...extreme. Allow me to use this illustration as to what you are really signing up for when you made that ‘decision’.
I would liken it to a person/couple who felt overwhelmed by all the clutter and ‘things’ they had accumulated in their home. (not talking about ‘hoarders’ here now...just the ‘average person’ like you and I.). The burden of having all this ‘stuff’ was wearing you down; so you heard there was a company who would come in and declutter and help you downsize. But it came with a price. Not only was the fee expensive...but you also had to sign a contract saying that you had ZERO veto power when they came in to your home and began to remove ‘stuff’ from your closets and attics and cabinets and storage sheds.
Uh...yeah...chew on that one a second. My wife and I can’t even get through one closet before I am the one protesting that “we can’t get rid of that...I might need it some day!”
In yesterday’s post, I made the comment that an un-surrendered heart to the Lordship of Christ is similar to a faulty fuel pump in a vehicle. You may be satisfied with priming it with a few drops of gas to hear the engine run briefly, but you will never get anywhere in it.
And if we have failed to live this surrendered life out ourselves, then it is unlikely we can effectively communicate this truth to those who come behind us. I mean, the student can only be as good as this teacher, Jesus taught...which is why the blind end up following the blind into the ditch. (Luke 6:39-40)
When Jesus began to call His disciples unto Him...you read where they ‘left all to follow’. That’s what a true decision entails. And it’s not talking about leaving your job or family either.
Reading through the gospels and then the Book of Acts, it becomes quite evident that what we read from back then, and what most of us see and experience today...are two seemingly different worlds or practices of faith. Let’s face it...the demands or ‘requirements’ that Jesus laid down are simply way too radical and extreme for modern day church folks. I mean...”be perfect like your Father in heaven is perfect’ (Matt 5:48) and ‘go and sin no more’ (John 8:11), or “unless you are willing to forsake all, you cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). If we are going to build God’s kingdom here on earth, then we need to modify and chisel away some of those ‘harder sayings’ if we are going to draw a crowd.
May I ask you a question here...when was the last time you had a better idea than God?
But chisel away and water down...we did. It’s much easier today to invite people to ‘accept Christ as savior’ (fire insurance so you don’t go to hell) than it is to sell them on the idea of making Him Lord of our lives. As in...He calls all the shots.
This is most likely what has contributed to the great ‘falling away’ and/or ‘falling asleep’ the scripture teaches would happen to the church in the last days. (2 Thess. 2:3; Matt. 25:1-13)
In previous postings, I have pointed us to the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus...respectfully...inquiring as to how he might too, experience this new life and way of living. (Matt. 19; Mark 10). He seemed like such a great candidate who would benefit the kingdom greatly. So Jesus pointed him to the law...the young man responded that he was indeed adhering to it. Then Jesus makes this profound observation- (It helps to read both gospel accounts.) The young man asked Him “What do I still lack?” We then read in Mark’s account that Jesus looked at him and ‘loved him', saying: “one thing you lack ... Go... sell...give...then...come...take up the cross and follow Me.” (Mark 10:21) ... “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor...and come follow Me.” (Matt 19:20-21).
The young man blinked...and turned away. Not today...can’t do that...just not quite there yet Jesus. We read where he turned and was ‘sad’ or ‘grieved’. The price was just too much. And what we sure don’t read or are led to believe...is that Jesus reconsidered and ran after him and begged him to join anyway and that they could deal with those other issues later. You were either going to be all in...or not in at all. Period.
Look at Acts 5...where God was moving in a way that brought ‘great fear upon all the church and upon all who heard these things’ (11). Yet...through the hands of the apostles, great signs and wonders took place and many people were surrendering to the gospel message. Yet, we also read that others “dared not join them”. (13). You almost have to respect those who stay at a distance before signing up. I mean...Jesus does admonish us to ‘count the cost’ even to the point of saying we will have to love Him even more than our own flesh and blood.(Luke 14:25-33) He also points out that those who ‘set their hand to the plow and look back are not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
When the Israelites came out of Egypt and in to the wilderness under the leadership of Moses following some pretty dramatic and amazing demonstrations of God’s Spirit, they were brought to Mt. Sinai. There was this little detail that remained which had to do with ‘getting to know God’. It was obvious that did not. And as any church member who has been around for any length of time knows, these folks wandered around in the wilderness for the next forty years due to their unbelief and resistance to submitting to God. Paul tells us exactly why...God was not happy with this group. (1 Cor 10:1-11). Their rebellion and wandering is well documented and familiar to us.
There is this one passage though in Ex. 19 you might have overlooked before. It was the response of the people upon hearing what this God they were being introduced to was asking of them. – “Then all the people answered together and said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do.’. So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.” (8).
I wonder if Moses told God...”Hey Lord...good news...we had 2.5 million ‘decisions’ today.
“But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples...” (1 Cor. 10:5-6) And, “Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief...Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” (Heb. 3:18-4:2).
Sounds like ‘faith’ and ‘obedience’ have something to do with each other? (Heb. 5:9). What good is a ‘decision’ ....if we don’t follow through on it?
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