Friend
Lukewarm doesn’t cut it. Too much time has elapsed. It’s a gradual process. I just don’t have the time. I’m busy. I’m tired. I’m good, it’s their problem. I just don’t care enough or I don’t have that talent. I’m afraid of people. What happens if the get angry or get upset? I’m just not built that way. I’m really not interested. It doesn’t really matter, it’s up to each individual. I’ll just let someone else do it. I’m not prepared. I’m just not that smart. I’m not equipped. I can’t handle the pressure. I’m sacred. I’ll mess it up.
Every excuse in the book is given. Many, I haven’t even thought of. It’s true. Many Christians just don’t want to get their “feet wet.” The prospect of talking to another person about Jesus is difficult. How does one start? Does a Christian really need to evangelize? What about if the person gets mad or doesn’t want to engage or interact? What if the Christian doesn’t have all the answers? Don’t you need a degree to evangelize? I’ve heard it all. Yes, I was one of those Christians as well. It absolutely scared me to death to proclaim Christ to anyone. How do you start the conversation? What do you say? What is the “right” way of doing it? Is there a right way? I’m not Jesus. I’m not a pastor or a priest. I really don’t have to do this. So many excuses. But, here’s the thing: Jesus didn’t have any excuses. You might say: “Jesus is God. I’m not.” So?
It’s funny to hear all of it. Like I said, I was just that way. Then, one day, it hit me right in the face: Jesus went “to bat” for me. He didn’t have to do it. He did it out of love for us. For me! See, I can’t comprehend that kind of love. Neither can anyone else. I don’t care if you’ve memorized the Bible, read hundreds of books, studied for years, it certainly doesn’t give you an inside track on Jesus. He loved us first. He proved His love by giving His life for us. Would you do that for your most hated enemy? What about your friend, your best friend? What about your family member? What about a perfect stranger? What about if you had to watch your son die brutally and be mutilated so you could live? Here, it gets interesting. Watching someone you love get butchered so that you could walk away free and alive. Now there’s a thought.
I wonder how many Christians have truly felt the awe of what Jesus did for them? He condescended to become human. That in itself, is beyond any words you could ever describe. He went willingly and voluntarily to His death by crucifixion. He did it solely for us. Moreover, He took on our sin and gave the believer His righteousness so that the relationship between God and humanity could be restored in fellowship. Now, Jesus becomes the mediator between God and humanity and we have an advocate who we can go to for anything. He loves us that much. He pursues us. He’s present. He’s God.
A lot of people across the globe have a very hard time believing that Jesus is God. He specifically stated that the only way to heaven is through Him. That turns a lot of people off. Many believe that there are many paths to heaven and all are valid. Some don’t even believe in heaven. Some, just don’t care. Some people just don’t like “organized” religions. See, Jesus is not a religion, He’s a Person. He doesn’t need traditions or rituals; He wants a relationship. It doesn’t make any sense to believe in a building if you have Jesus who is waiting to have a relationship with you. After all, that why he came. See, for those who believe in Jesus as God, He call us friends. The God who created everything wants to be your friend. Friendship between God and humans is the most intimate friendship a human could have. Creator with the creature. It seems unimaginable yet it does happen to all those who believe in the Creator. Jesus doesn’t give much “wiggle room, here.” Either He is who He says He is, or He’s not. But He forces you to make a choice. The choice is free and yours alone. He will not interfere. Either you want friendship, or not. See, people make a big deal about hell, as if there’s no choice in the matter. God is evil and sends people to hell for no apparent “good” reason, or so they say. Well, not so fast. First, God is not evil, we are. He is good and we are not. He’s consistent and we are not. He can’t be other than He is, and we change all the time. He created; we are His creation. He makes the rules, we either follow them or not. He’s the Ruler, we are His subjects. He loves first. We don’t know His love for us until He shows it to us. He loves us more than we could ever possibly love ourselves. We sinned (rebelled) against Him, He went to the cross for us. So, it’s a choice. We choose Him or we don’t. We choose hell, He doesn’t choose it for us. Don’t think that hell is a lot of fun. It isn’t. The only reason why we have any “fun” or “good times” on this planet even if we don’t choose Him, is because of common grace. Yes. God gives us that too. Common grace means an unmerited favor God bestows upon us even if we choose not to be with Him while we are alive. Trouble is, dead, there’s a judgment. If you wanted to do it your way, well, you get judged on how you did. One sin, you’re out. God and sin can’t be in the same space. Yes, your choice, hell. Now here comes the really bad part about hell. See, I think the Bible “water downs” hell. In hell, there is no common grace. There is no communication with God ever again. So, you live eternally in sin. Bad gig.
I think one should really think about where they want to spend eternity but distractions get in the way: life! The problem is that life really is too short. Whatever you think is fair or unfair, eventually, your life comes to an end and you got the rest of eternity to either be with THE Friend, or not. See, when you choose Christ, He promises you friendship with Him forever, and the best part is: He’s God. Sure, many will blow this off as intolerant, racist, whatever. Still, the choice is yours. You can’t get around it no matter how long you put it off. Think about it. He died to be your friend.