I remember when my wife and I sold our house and moved to Hancock County. We learned a lot about real estate, including the term “right of first refusal.”
Our real estate agent told us that if we found a house that we liked, we could put an offer on that home even if our house hadn’t sold yet. Should another buyer come along with the ability to purchase the house immediately, we would get the opportunity to find a way to pay for the home without selling ours. We had the right to buy the house, or the right to refuse to buy it. The choice was ours.
In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus tells his disciples, ”If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” This is a line-in-the-sand moment for the disciples. Jesus is making it very clear, if you aren’t willing to die for him, you aren’t worthy to follow him. Wow!
The cross was not a picture of the pretty silver necklaces we wear today. It was an element of torture and cruel capital punishment. It was the electric chair or the guillotine of its day.
Jesus isn’t playing games. This being a Christian thing is all-in. However, it’s your choice. You don’t have to follow. You don’t have to pick up the cross. But if you refuse now, don’t expect Jesus to welcome you into His kingdom later. This is your chance.
I think of Joshua’s command to the people of Israel, “If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
This is a gut-check moment for those of us who follow Christ. How far am I willing to follow him? How much do I trust him? What is my motive in following Jesus?
If it is simply to find temporary blessings and happiness, I think I may throw in the towel when the going gets tough. I need to keep my eyes on eternity and remember that Jesus gave everything for me. I must be willing to give everything for him: my job, my comfort, my financial security, my family, even my life should it come down to it.
Lord, I know that you are not asking anything of me that you have not already done for me. I surrender my life and everything that goes with it to you. You are worth it. Eternity is worth it!
Adam Detamore (@adetamore on Twitter) is pastor of Realife Church in Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members. Send comments to [email protected].
