Distance Difference

DISTANCE DIFFERENCE

If you were to measure 1 mile verses 5,200 ft there would not be that much of a difference. On the other hand if you were to put 12 inches against the measurement of 100 meters there would be a substantial difference. Anyone can recognize at face value the difference in power when comparing a boy to a man or a horse to a puppy. How about the sun from the earth or a tree from a piece of well-done steak from Outback Steakhouse? There is a big difference between the examples mentioned and anyone human walking planet earth would unanimously agree. However, when it comes to following Jesus some would beg to differ not only what the difference is but also how much the difference makes.

“What is there to differ preacher” you might ask? The end result of a life terminated, dead, obliterated and transformed from walking in, practicing, being patterned after, or consumed and contaminated by sin. I repeat, walking in sin or living in sin produces drastically different results than a heart and mind committed to, devoted to, in the following and learning of Jesus Christ. In other words, the distance difference mentioned in comparing 12 inches to 100 meters should be the same for the before Jesus lifestyle and after Jesus lifestyle.

Here is the problem. Those who label themselves Christian, believer, saved, or spiritual have never agreed on what this difference is and how much of a distance Jesus commands one to go for Him above everything else. Jesus is a separatist or exclusive faith. Jesus is not an all-inclusive or seeker friendly faith. Jesus is not for everyone, in that anyone can do and say anything and be accepted by Him. Please understand that this does not mean that Jesus did not die for the sins of the world, or rather every human being that has, does, or ever will exist. HE DID! This does mean however, that sin will ALWAYS separate the human from God. In other words, the distance between Jesus and a follower/learner of Him should be like the skin on your muscles: SKIN TIGHT. And the distance between a lifestyle before following Jesus should be light years from the lifestyle after deciding to follow/learn Jesus Christ the Lord.

The distance difference is state in Luke 14:25-34. Jesus is literally saying that to follow Him is like hating everything and everyone else. Following Jesus is to go completely in the opposite direction of everything you have ever desired, loved, or cherished in life. Does Jesus really mean this? YES HE DOES! “How so preacher” might you ask? Because He came down from heaven, wrapped Himself in flesh, living a sinless and perfect life, died and innocent horrific, painful, and dreadful death, rose victoriously from the dead, and ascended majestically into heaven and is how seated at the right hand of God the Father. In other words, Jesus did everything that could be done in order for Him to be worthy of such devotion. Yes He is God. But even if who He is does not convince you, He took it another step further and did what only God could do to prove Himself worthy of such devotion. Such devotion to Him, to be an exclusive and separated follower/learner of Him, is because of who He is and what He did, does, and can do for anybody.

Read the words of Jesus Christ yourself. Again, this is not Te`Luvv’s interpretation or Todd’s opinion, black opinion, American opinion or anything less than the literal words of the only true and living God: JESUS CHRIST. Luke 14:26 says (AMP):

“26If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [[g]in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters--[yes] and even his own life also--he cannot be My disciple.

25-27One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple. (MSG)

So folks, reconsider your confession of faith. Revisit yourself in the mirror before God and know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Reconsider the only wise God of all creation who created opinion, interest, your mind, your will, your emotions. Yes, He is the very inventor of thought process and every function of your brain was fabricated by His hand only. In other words, God not only knows what thinking is and how to think. He knows what you think, even right now. He will never guess at separating sheep from goats or wheat from tares. He is not guess “Hmmm. Who is going to spend eternity with Me?” God knows where every heart is real time. God knows the very intents of your heart right now.

In other words, if your distance difference is not long enough or big enough or wide enough biblically, then the distance you have does not make a difference and where you stand with Jesus is not different than before Jesus Christ. In other words, if you died who would you really shock?