Eschew
I thought
I knew; obfuscation
was unclear.
I
looked it
up in the
dictionary
and even after
all these
years, I have
forgotten
neither it
nor the ironic
library poster.
In
an effort
to eschew
obfuscation,
then, let
me be perfectly
clear: the
key to Christianity
is found in
your honest
answer to
this question,
“Who is Jesus,
and how will
I respond
to him?”
Jesus
is a universally
admired figure.
Virtually
every religion
or spiritual
belief system
acknowledges
his life and
teachings.
Many consider
him a prophet,
a visionary,
a great teacher,
a worthy example.
Christians
acknowledge
these things.
But we go
a significant
step further:
we believe
Jesus was
God Incarnate.
Jesus
was unique
in all history:
no one like
him before
or since.
He was fully
human and
fully divine.
He died, was
buried, rose
from the dead,
is still alive
and will someday
return to
assume his
rightful place
as Lord of
the universe.
Admittedly,
these are
outlandish
claims. If
they are true,
they set Christianity
apart from
every other
faith system.
If
they are not
true, Christianity
is a farce.
“If Christ
has not been
raised, our
preaching
is useless
and so is
your faith”
(1 Corinthians
15:14).
That
is why the
stakes are
so high. Whatever
your religious
persuasion,
the person
of Jesus deserves
your honest
investigation.
Was he, as
Christians
believe, God
clothed in
human flesh?
If
Jesus was
God, then
by definition,
he is worthy
of your worship.
Put aside
your pride,
your doubts
and your fears.
Surrender
to him, receive
his forgiveness,
and commit
your life
to him. Make
it your life’s
ambition to
love him,
know him and
follow him.
If
he was not
God, if he
was merely
a good example
or a moral
teacher, then
Christianity
is a fraudulent
faith. It’s
as simple
as that.
Let’s
take it a
step further.
Many people
mistakenly
assume that
simply acknowledging
the deity
of Jesus is
adequate.
They readily
admit, “I
believe Jesus
is the Son
of God,” not
realizing
that in the
Bible, even
demons acknowledge
this fact
(Mark 1:24,
for example).
Obviously,
Jesus deserves
more from
us than mental
assent.
Christianity
is not merely
a belief to
which we adhere.
Instead, Christianity
is a relationship
to which we
commit. At
its heart,
Christianity
is a love
story. It
is surprisingly
similar to
the courtship
between a
man and woman.
Jesus is the
groom. We
are the bride.
He has proposed
to us. How
will we respond?
For
my part, everything
I know about
Jesus encourages
me to trust
him for those
things I
do not understand.
He has invited
me into a
relationship
which I can
enjoy now
and forever.
Eschew
obfuscation.
My response
is simple
and sincere:
“I Do.”
“Let
us rejoice
and be glad
and give him
glory! For
the wedding
of the Lamb
has come,
and his bride
has made herself
ready. Fine
linen, bright
and clean,
was given
her to wear”
(Revelation
19:7‑8).
