I recently listened to a sermon that talked about the thoughts and feelings (positive, righteous feelings) that come naturally to committed Christians who literally work everyday at choosing the cross over the crowd. Read that first statement again... slowly. Initially, I'm thinking come naturally... because I'm thinking that natural is carnal, but just maybe, when a believer makes a decision to think and act a certain way... and with years and years and years of practice, maybe it does become natural. I don't know, maybe. I've come a long way in 13 years, but I cannot say that for all those years that I've consistently chosen the cross over the crowd, nor can I say that it comes naturally yet. But that's not the topic of my blog today. In the application of this message I was listening to, it might have said that extreme and radical following of Christ instead of the crowd will change your life, but it didn't say how. Let me tell you how it changed mine.
Following Christ puts you against the flow. Think of a mountain stream- about shin deep or more. To go with the flow is relaxing... like a gentle float down the river. A lazy river, if you will. But have you ever stopped and just stood? To begin to look around and really see what's going on around you takes much effort and concentration to not lose your balance. If you are strong enough and choose to start working your way upstream, it's on... Purposeful, intentional choices and actions as you start your swim against the tide... soon you realize you're meeting friends, family, co-workers who are all moving in the opposite direction. Still you fight, fight, fight against the flow and it soon becomes easier as you get stronger and you begin reaping the benefits. But at some point you look around and realize that your friends have abandoned you- even your church friends, possibly your family members, too. You may be overlooked at work for that promotion or dismissed from consideration in an interview. If you don't go with the flow, you are seen by the crowd as *uncooperative, a threat to the establishment- the management, the system, the foundation. *I had great difficulty finding the right adjective to correctly convey my meaning here; others that fit almost equally as well are: contrary, headstrong, unswayable, unbending, resolute. I have felt this time and time again, situation after situation in every area of my life over the past 3-4 years... since we made a drastic, radical change in our focus, our faith and our obedience to the cross. I can't begin to tell someone how to prepare for it. I had no idea it would affect my inner circle so dramatically. I just hadn't anticipated it, that's all. It makes sense that it has to infiltrate every portion of your life to make true change that actually changes you. Friends and family- some will go along for the ride (join you or support you), and others will not. And that may- no, that will break your heart. But in the larger picture, what's important is Christ... following Christ, not the crowd. So go ahead and be contrary, headstrong, unswayable, unbending, and resolute when it comes to following Christ. It is worth the effort... it is worth the heartbreak... it is worth the division you feel in your earthly relationships because the heavenly blessings are so much richer.
He did it for us first... paving the way, modeling the life, leaving us some instructions and encouragment. Everyone wants the crown, but they refuse the cross. Ours is so much smaller than His, so much lighter. It's a privelege to carry the one we've been given. Far too many are left by the roadside; along with anointings, blessings and inheritances that are given to those of us who will carry ours.
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason Christ warned us that He would cause division and that our enemies may be from our own house, and that we should count the cost...it may be a high price, but, like you said, He is worth it.
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