I remember when my wife and I were dating. Our relationship was not exactly typical. In the end, she laid out a logical argument for why we should get married. I thought it over, bought a ring, and went to her house and rang the bell. When the door opened, I handed her the open ring box and said, “Yes.”
Most of the time in America the man asks, “Will you marry me?” There are a number of responses that can follow, but they fall into three categories:
Yes.
No.
Let me think.
That last one can get tricky, and that’s what I’m discussing today.
If the answer is “yes,” there are rights and responsibilities for both parties. Same with accepting Jesus. If the answer is “no,” neither party is responsible for much, nor is there much claim to any rights. It’s that middle ground where most people want to exist.
The thing is, most people want to go to Heaven. Just ask them. They’ll say yes, and most will even say they’re pretty sure that’s their destination after death. “Well, yeah. I’m a good person.” But that’s not what the Bible teaches.
When a marriage proposal is given and the “let me think” option is taken, there’s really no commitment. Either party gets the option to keep dating other people, and for the most part it seems freeing to not really say “yes” or “no.” When you do that with Jesus, it’s tantamount to telling him “no.”
You’re dating Jesus, but he’s asking for your hand in a permanent relationship. “Let me think.” There’s that other god of career, another called wealth, and a third god named Self. If you accept Jesus, Self is no longer the center of the universe. You don’t get to date Yourself, you can’t shack up with Friends, you can’t sleep around with Wealth, Career, The Big Game, or Stuff. It’s Jesus, or Not Jesus.
Think about how you’d feel if your spouse was sleeping around with someone else.
“I Am a jealous God.” He wants to be first in your life, and if He’s not, He’s not really your God. You’re sleeping around with another god.
Stop straddling the fence. Get on the side of God and commit to it.
If you’re not on the solid rock of Christ, you’re standing on sinking sand.
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