“Do you know Jesus?”
Back when I was growing up, this was the go-to question for all those do-it-yourself street evangelism training sessions. If we could just remember to ask strangers on the street this simple question, then we could jump into the Romans Road and lead them to Christ before supper. A perfect plan if ever there was one.
Here’s the thing: that’s actually not the question Jesus asks in the Bible. He doesn’t ask if people know him, or even introduce himself. Strange as it is, just believing in Jesus isn’t how to “get saved.” James tells us that even the demons believe in God, and in Luke a demon-possessed man goes so far as to identify Jesus as “the Holy One of God.” Just believing isn’t enough, as it turns out. There’s actually more we have to do.
Now before you get upset, I know what some of you are saying. “But it says right here ‘believe on Jesus Christ and you will be saved, so get out of here with that talk , heathen.” Prepare yourself for the epic rejoinder, my friends.
It doesn’t say “Jesus Christ,” it says “LORD Jesus Christ.” And therein lies the rub. We are not called to just believe that Jesus exists or that he rose from the dead or even that He’s God. Yes, we need to believe those things, but the choice is if we will make him Lord of our lives.
What does that mean? How do you make someone lord? I’m glad you asked.
It means that Jesus is not just here to save me from my sins, nor is he my best buddy who hangs out with me, nor is he my therapist or guidance counselor. Yes, he can be all those things, should He choose. But He is much more. He is Lord. The Ruler. The King. Our job is to submit to his rule, not to tell him what our life is like and ask him to help us succeed. The focus of our relationship is on Him and what He wants, not on me and what I want.
The King makes the rules, and we follow them. The King makes the plans, and we are given the privilege of being a part of it. The King makes the decisions, and we adjust our lives to Him. The King owns it all, and we are given as much as He decides, so that we can use it for His plans, not ours.
SONSEED (IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW)
One of the great hymns of the Church back in the day was “What a Friend We Have In Jesus.” It’s such a comforting thought, to know we have a person that will come alongside us and help with our burdens, give us guidance, and support us when we’re weak. What a privilege.
However, like most things, this idea is about balance, and it seems to me we’ve fallen a little to one side on this one. When we reduce Jesus to our hang-out-on-the-couch buddy, we forget that he’s not our equal. He is Lord of creation, and we are his creations. We are called to follow him, not to come alongside as his peers. We don’t make decisions with Him, we follow His decisions.
To truly be “saved,” He says we must love Him. And how do we love him? We follow his commands. (This one’s easy, he said it himself.) He didn’t say that we set aside a couple hours a week to hang out. He didn’t say we should take his advice after we’ve thought it through and reasoned it out and concluded he is right. We follow his commands because He in fact is the boss of us.
I strongly believe this is where a lot of people (in America in particular) falter in their walk with the Lord. We love that Jesus cleans away our sins, we love the emotional impact of powerful worship, we enjoy the mental stretch of a good sermon. We like all of the stuff that is focused on us.
But when it come right down to putting aside our right to ourselves, to submit our desires and lives and decisions to Jesus, we hesitate. We want to do what’s safe and practical and reasonable and within our ability to control. We want to make our choices, not just give them all up in service to Jesus and especially to others. We want to protect ourselves and not get hurt.
But is that what Jesus did? Did he protect himself, or did He pour himself out for us? For his enemies? For those who hit him and cursed him and didn’t understand? For those who oppressed His people, and killed his friends and family? Did he hold anything back? Is he asking us to do anything less?
ALL TO HIM I OWE
For most of us, giving up our rights is the hardest thing about serving Christ. We don’t mind giving to the poor, when and how much we choose. But the idea of giving ALL our wealth to the poor? Surely Jesus didn’t really mean that. Do good to our neighbors? Maybe. Submit to the leadership of liberals in our government? Surely Jesus wants us to stand up for our freedom. If someone takes advantage of us, let them do it again? Surely Jesus doesn’t want us to turn the other cheek for them, that’s just foolish.
But it’s what he calls us to.
Making Jesus Lord of our lives is a long process, and one I suspect few of us attain this side of heaven. But we should be striving for it. We should be checking ourselves daily to ask:
“Am I giving up my choices to Jesus today, or going ahead with what I think is the best plan?”
“Am I treating the poor, the foreigner, and my enemies with the same love I show my family and friends?”
“Am I really giving up my rights to my Lord today, or am I keeping some back from myself?”
These aren’t easy questions to answer and work through, and I think if we are honest with ourselves we fail on these just about every day. We often look to what we can “do” to work with Jesus, rather than for him.
But keep in mind we don’t work to hear “Good work, partner.” We work for the Lord and King, giving up everything we have, in hopes of one day hearing “well done, good and faithful servant.”