Crunch Time
30/08/09 15:57
You’ve heard the
saying, “It’s crunch time, baby!”
Crunch time is when you have to muster up all your
strength and determination and… make a
decision. It’s the time you give all
you’ve got, go the extra mile, focus on the
goal. When I woke up this morning and felt the pain
in my mouth for the third straight day, I knew it
was…crunch time. I had to weigh the pros and
cons, I had to fight my flesh. I cried. I prayed. I
looked into the future when the pain would be no
more. I cried and I prayed some more. I knew I had to
make a decision. Ugh. I have to go to the dentist.
Have you ever put off making a decision because you knew that the thing you had to do was going to bring pain? Maybe you were going to have to spend some money you didn’t think you had, yet you knew it was best to spend the money now, or else it was going to cost you more later. Maybe that decision was a little more critical than mine, maybe it was life changing.
I am reminded of the account in the book of Acts when Paul was standing in front of King Agrippa giving his testimony and preaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. At one point the governor, Festus, interrupted Paul, “You’re out of your mind, Paul.” He shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” At this point Paul tells the king and the governor that he is not insane and reminds King Agrippa that Paul knew that he had been familiar with the things that were being told about Jesus.
This tells me that King Agrippa had been contemplating life and death and the hope of salvation. In other words, He was pondering his need to give his life to God. But, for him, giving his life to Christ would mean tremendous changes in his life, and those changes could have very well including losing his royalty and easy life style. He says to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to become a Christian?” Paul then says to Agrippa, “Short time or long – I pray to God that not only you, but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
Now, you may be wondering where all this is going. I speak of this because I believe that over the years we have compromised our Christian walk and the decision to surrender our lives to Christ has boiled down to a simple mental affirmation. There isn’t any real demand to change how we live. But, I remember a time when surrendering the life to Christ meant that lifestyles changed drastically and at times, those changes were not pleasant.
Listen, there is a reason why the Bible says that sin is pleasurable for a season. Giving your life to Christ means that there are certain pleasures that you are determined to live without. There will be certain things that you will not strive for and other things that should not be attained. Sometimes Christianity means a change in a profession, a change in a career, and a change in habitation. All these changes can disrupt the life and bring pain and suffering. Nonetheless, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and yet in the end, lose his soul?
Maybe you are contemplating Christianity and thinking that it might not be real convenient right now to become a Christian. Maybe you are a Christian and God is drawing you into a deeper walk. You know that there are certain changes that He wants you to make and you’re stalling because you know those changes are not going to be convenient for you.
The thing you have to remember is this: God knows that if you let Him take charge of your situation, there will come a time when your heart will leap with joy and gratitude that you made the decision and surrendered to Him.
Have a God blessed week!
Pastor Jim
Have you ever put off making a decision because you knew that the thing you had to do was going to bring pain? Maybe you were going to have to spend some money you didn’t think you had, yet you knew it was best to spend the money now, or else it was going to cost you more later. Maybe that decision was a little more critical than mine, maybe it was life changing.
I am reminded of the account in the book of Acts when Paul was standing in front of King Agrippa giving his testimony and preaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. At one point the governor, Festus, interrupted Paul, “You’re out of your mind, Paul.” He shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” At this point Paul tells the king and the governor that he is not insane and reminds King Agrippa that Paul knew that he had been familiar with the things that were being told about Jesus.
This tells me that King Agrippa had been contemplating life and death and the hope of salvation. In other words, He was pondering his need to give his life to God. But, for him, giving his life to Christ would mean tremendous changes in his life, and those changes could have very well including losing his royalty and easy life style. He says to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to become a Christian?” Paul then says to Agrippa, “Short time or long – I pray to God that not only you, but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
Now, you may be wondering where all this is going. I speak of this because I believe that over the years we have compromised our Christian walk and the decision to surrender our lives to Christ has boiled down to a simple mental affirmation. There isn’t any real demand to change how we live. But, I remember a time when surrendering the life to Christ meant that lifestyles changed drastically and at times, those changes were not pleasant.
Listen, there is a reason why the Bible says that sin is pleasurable for a season. Giving your life to Christ means that there are certain pleasures that you are determined to live without. There will be certain things that you will not strive for and other things that should not be attained. Sometimes Christianity means a change in a profession, a change in a career, and a change in habitation. All these changes can disrupt the life and bring pain and suffering. Nonetheless, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and yet in the end, lose his soul?
Maybe you are contemplating Christianity and thinking that it might not be real convenient right now to become a Christian. Maybe you are a Christian and God is drawing you into a deeper walk. You know that there are certain changes that He wants you to make and you’re stalling because you know those changes are not going to be convenient for you.
The thing you have to remember is this: God knows that if you let Him take charge of your situation, there will come a time when your heart will leap with joy and gratitude that you made the decision and surrendered to Him.
Have a God blessed week!
Pastor Jim
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