“Today, if only you would hear his voice, “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.” Psalms 95:7b-9 NIV
Reflection: what is the hardest thing we must do in order to become a Christian?
I was listening to some of the speeches at the Charlie Kirk memorial yesterday, and it was so amazing to see so many coming together to celebrate a life focused on faith and freedom. And I was specifically struck by the theme from Tucker Carlson, who really spoke about repentance. That it is the only way to God, through Jesus. And of course, as disciples of Christ, we know that to be so very true. It is the very starting point of anyone who wants to follow Jesus. Because, we recognize that our own way doesn’t work. It leads us away from God, away from light, from love, from truth; away from life itself. On our own, our hearts will be hardened and we will never enter into God’s presence. Repenting, really denying our own way, and then following Jesus, is the only way to God. The only way.
Now, isn’t it interesting that this one word, repentance, this one action necessary to follow Jesus to life, is not spoken much in many churches? Why do you think that is? My suspicion is that it goes against what many want to hear. It is not easy to hear that “You are wrong” where we have created a culture of “acceptance” or “inclusion”. It is not easy to hear that God does not accept us “as we are”.
Wait a minute!
God does not accept us as we are? Isn’t that the entire message of the gospel of Jesus Christ? It is partially correct, which is why many might think they are a Christian, while they might not be. ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23 NIV.
Jesus is pretty clear that it is only those who “do the will of the Father” who will enter the kingdom of heaven. It is a matter of the heart, whether we truly desire to do the will of God, or continue to follow our own ways. In psalm 95, we are reminded of what happened in the desert when the people were unhappy not having “enough water”. So instead of trusting God, they tested Him, demanding water. God did provide for them, even despite their hard hearts. But he also saw their hard hearts, which angered Him, and made an oath to Himself “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”” Psalms 95:11 NIV
So, does God accept us “as we are?” No, not as we are in ourselves, which is the entire reason why Jesus came. We are in ourselves sinners, not acceptable to God. But, by receiving Jesus as our sacrifice, as our Lord (which means to follow him), and by faith in him alone, believing in his name and his works, we are born again by God. We are then a new creation in Christ, acceptable to God. Therefore, to become a follower of Jesus is a big decision. A big commitment, deciding to give up of self. It is not just saying some words and then go on with our lives as before. It requires repentance, a turnaround and a complete life commitment. Jesus said ““Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”Matthew 13:45-46 NIV.
What he is saying here is that we have to follow him, we need to be willing to give up, trade in everything we have, for the new life in Christ. The hardest thing for each of us is to give up of self, to surrender self, in order to gain Christ.