Clothesline 273 "Choosing Jesus"

Last week we looked at what it means to discover Jesus.  We looked at the need to learn more about this Jesus who wants us to choose His way of life.  And we suggested the folly of even considering such a choice until we really discover who this Jesus is and why he not only wants a relationship with us but why he deserves that relationship, our love and our worship.  And together we discovered:  Jesus is indeed the Son of God; Jesus is our Savior; Jesus changes our hearts, giving us a Spirit of repentance; Jesus is our Lord and Master; Jesus is the world’s greatest teacher; and Jesus is the mediator of the covenant, the connection between the Old and the New Testaments.  

So now that we have discovered Jesus, what’s next?  We must choose Jesus.  And exactly what does that mean? 

    First, choosing Jesus means “un-choosing” sin.  Makes sense.  If we want to have a relationship with a sinless Jesus, we have to strive to live without sin.  It won’t be perfect, but only Jesus knows how hard it is to live in this imperfect world.  So, we do our best and we are forgiven. 

   Second, choosing Jesus means believing in Him, putting all your trust in Him.  It means trusting that He loves you, that He forgives your sins, and that he gives you eternal life.  It means trusting that His teachings are true, and that you can follow Him without fear of being disappointed. 

   Third, choosing Jesus means receiving Him.  There is a famous painting of Jesus standing outside a door and knocking.  And there is something unique about the door.   The outside of the door has no doorknob.  At first one might think that it was a mistake.  But the missing doorknob is deliberate.  The door can only be opened from the inside out.  We have to invite Jesus in…into our hearts and lives.   

   Fourth, choosing Jesus means professing Him.   Jesus wants disciples who will stand up and be counted—who are willing to speak out to others about their belief in Him.  

It may not be popular.  You may be shunned for professing your faith, but it’s what Jesus expects from those who follow Him.  I’m reminded of Joseph of Arimathea.  He was torn between his position as a respected Pharisee and what he knew to be true about Jesus.  I wonder how he felt after Jesus died.  Did he wish he had been bolder, professing his belief in Jesus to his counterparts?  We’ll never know…

And fifth, choosing Jesus means continuing with Him.  Choosing Jesus is just the beginning.  You don’t choose to follow Him only once, and then stop.  You must reaffirm your choice of Jesus over and over again. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he writes:     “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it…”. It’s easy to make a choice once and then drift away from it sometime later.  A lukewarm Christian slides away little by little, until one day there is a big separation between him and Jesus.  Choosing Jesus means continuing with Him.

So, after discovering Jesus, we have come to a fork in the road.  We must decide whether we will choose his path…or not.  So, what’ll it be?