I’m not sure how you did with yesterday’s message, the one about the need to ‘examine ourselves’…but after I posted it I could hear an accusatory voice whisper to me “You’re making this too hard on people.” And it wasn’t God speaking to me.

I was then reminded of that passage in John 6, where after Jesus had shared some deep truths with those in His audience, we are told that “many of His disciples, when they heard this said, ‘this is a hard saying, who can accept it’?” (60). These weren’t just peripheral followers waiting for the next miracle of fishes and loaves to fill their bellies either. They were ‘disciples’, or as many folks today would call them: ‘saved folks’.

And Jesus knew in Himself that what He was telling them was not being well received (61). But He didn’t modify or dilute or back off from His message so as to appease the disgruntled group who were now second guessing what they had signed on for with this ‘following Jesus’ journey.

Jesus was not one to tell people what they wanted to hear, He told them, as He tells us today what we need to he, which is -unless you are willing to ‘forsake all’…you cannot be His disciple. (Luke 9:23; 14:33)

Care to read on and see what those folks who thought the message they were hearing was ‘too hard’…did in response? Go underline vs. 66 – “From that time many of His disciples went back…and walked with Him no more.” And for those of you want to suggest they were not ‘really saved’ to begin with, I’d love to hear what evidence you might offer up to support that often shared theory; not to be argumentative of course. I’m just curious. :- )

Again, let me reiterate – Jesus was always more concerned with telling folks what they ‘needed’ to hear, as opposed to what they ‘wanted’ to hear. Do you recall Paul’s warning to Timothy, about a future time coming where folks would not ‘endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires and having itching ears…would heap up for themselves, teachers who would turn their ears away from truth, be turned aside to fables’ (2 Tim. 4:3-4). You don’t suppose that might be happening today, do you? And before you point a finger towards someone like a ‘Joel Osteen’…you might start closer to home and take into account what you are feeding on weekly.

I don’t know of a more honest and gut-wrenching exchange of dialogue found in the gospels, than the one we read of between Jesus and the rich young ruler (Matt. 19; Mark 10; Luke 18). We have this young, seemingly decent and respectful young man approach Jesus, inquiring to what ‘one must do’ in order to inherit this eternal life that Jesus came preaching about.

The ‘interview’ seemed to be going so well, and you can only imagine what the disciples were thinking among themselves, how great it would be that this ‘influencer’ would join their group and with his money…really be able to help expand their mission. But then Jesus had to go and ‘blow it’ by telling this young man what he ‘needed’ to hear, and not what many today would have thought to be a perfectly easy and ‘acceptable’ message to receive.  You know the one- "Just accept Me as personal Savior".

Jesus had basically looked over this young man’s resumé and informed him that something was missing. “One thing you lack…” (Mark 10:21). You’ve got some extra baggage here that you’ll need to unload first. Then you’ll be able to ‘take up the cross and follow Me’.

This young ruler became a disgruntled prospect who considered his options, then turned away, sorrowful, mind you…and he walked away. And the part I think many people miss here is what Jesus did NOT do: He didn’t chase this young man down and apologize for coming across as too demanding, wanting to console him before offering him ‘another deal’.

Are we not told in Hebrews 12:1 to ‘lay aside every weight and sin that so easily ensnares us’? Or how about Paul’s exhortation as he writes: “Therefore beloved, having these promises, let us cleans ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1). What are we supposed to make of that verse? You don’t suspect that God is really that serious about us becoming ‘holy’ now, do you? (1 Peter 1:14-16). And what could Hebrews 12:14 possibly mean where it says ‘without holiness no one will see the Lord’?

I have not touched on this illustration recently, but it is something I have made use of in the past, in both my writings and discussions with others. We are living in a very serious time, where for whatever reason, far too many sincere ‘Christians’ have become more zealous and passionate in embracing political leaders and parties, more so than their embracing their faith in Jesus. I have likened this well-meaning, but often mis-directed idea that we ‘believers’ need to be about the business of ‘saving our country’. Folks…any ‘saving’ that is going to take place will be done by God Himself (John 3:17-18), and He doesn’t need political systems to do this. To use a metaphor here, my concern is too many have become obsessed with trying to ‘save the Titanic’ when they need to redirect their attention, their efforts, and their ‘faith’ on making sure they are on/in the ‘Ark’.

We may be ‘in this world’ but we are not ‘of this world’ (John 17:14-15). And if you are familiar with that story/movie of the Titanic, you should know that ‘electing a new captain’, or changing the buffet menu on the ship was pointless. There came a point in that story where it was ‘all hands on deck’ and the only mission then was getting people into the lifeboats. Perhaps you’ve seen the movie where there was much panic and chaos as they tried to get as many of the frantic passengers into the limited number of lifeboats as they could. Can I just tell you now…that on that fateful night at sea, there was no room for ‘extra baggage’, like personal belonging, because lives were at stake.

Borrowing that example if I may…lives are still at stake today (Joel 3:14). Many who linger in that ‘valley of decision’ are long time church members who have been fed a false security, thinking they too…can enter the ‘Ark’ with a lot of excess baggage. I hate to be the one to inform you, but if you have any hopes of entering into, or ‘inheriting’ the kingdom of heaven, you are going to have to leave all your ‘baggage’ outside. And we are not talking now about fur coats and TV’s and camera gear or fancy gadgets.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but you can’t come into this ark with that bitterness and resentment that you are carrying so close to your heart.”

“Sir…please know that you will have to leave that pride and lust outside if you want to enter this rescue craft.”

“Oh, were you under the impression you could come onboard despite those racial issues of hatred you harbor in your heart? I’m sorry but you were misinformed.”

Friends…God is serious about this; more so than what the manner many of our lives reflect. No, I’m not reminding or informing any of us to what we ‘like to hear’; I’m sharing straight from God’s word what we ‘need’ to hear.  Jesus did not come to 'destroy men's lives...He came to save them' (Luke 9:56; 13:3,5).