The Choice Is Yours

While listening the other day to one of my favorite apologists, Ravi Zacharias, my eyes were opened to two of the most famous words in scripture. “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) For all of my Christian life, I believed that Jesus was upset because his friend Lazarus had just died and he was sad for his close friends, Mary and Martha. Yet, Ravi brought new light to my eyes that got me thinking. Maybe Jesus wasn’t weeping because he was sad for his friends, but he was weeping because he knew more. He knew the pain and suffering they would have to endure, but even more than that, Jesus knew how every person would have to go through sorrow, hardships, and ultimately experience death.

Making the decision to follow through with the Father’s plans Jesus chose to obey exactly what he was asked to do because he knew the desire of his Father’s heart that none should perish.

So, what holds you back from accepting Jesus’s obedience? Are you afraid of what others may think of you when they see the change? Are you afraid you will be called names like “Jesus freak”? Does fear keep you sticking with beliefs that you no longer believe? Do you find more comfort in adhering to your doubt than accepting truth? Has your perspective of the Christian life become skewed based on hypocrisy? In all of the above, God wants you to know that He understands your heart and that he will never be forceful in your decision to follow Him. It is your decision you know. He has left the choice up to you.

Jesus knew that you would have to go through many struggles in life, but he would rather die for just one if that meant they could be free for all eternity.

Do you believe you are one worth weeping for? Jesus does, and He believes you are worth dying for as well. Will you chose to follow Him and the peace and freedom that he gives or will you continue to indulge in the temporary pleasures of the world? The choice is yours.

Father, I pray for the reader of this article. I ask that you would help them to let go of their fears and feelings for the things of this world and that they instead would chose to follow you. May they find freedom, hope, and a peace that surpasses all understanding that only you can bring. I thank you for knowing their heart and meeting them right where they are. I ask you to bring healing to the brokenhearted. In Jesus name. Amen