Cross-Examination (Part One)

In examining the decision to become born-again and devote our lives to Jesus, we need to determine if there's anything we're unwilling to give up.

Then Jesus gives two illustrations to consider. The first one is about a guy deciding whether or not to build a tower. Jesus is making the point that it was wise for him to first sit down and consider whether or not he thinks he's got what it takes to complete the job.

If he goes into it thinking, 'let's just get started and see how it goes' and he winds up getting half-way done and not being able to go any further, he'll be ridiculed for his lack of wise planning.

Likewise, Jesus would want someone to sit down and examine whether or not they felt they were ready to devote themselves to following him for the rest of their lives. Now, obviously we can't predict the future so we can't know what's going to happen in our lives, but we still need to consider the possibilities.

When I'm faced with having to choose Jesus over what I'd like to do instead who's going to win out? We can't predict what we will do when those moments come, but we need to honestly evaluate whether or not we feel we would choose Jesus.

What if Jesus asked me to change jobs because the one I'm currently in doesn't honor him? What if he wanted me to become a missionary? What if he wanted me to break-up with my long-time girlfriend because our relationship wasn't honorable to him? Whatever it is, do we believe we're ready to live for Jesus?

That doesn't mean we'll be perfect at it. It will be difficult at times, especially when it comes to making touch choices. We know the power of the Holy Spirit will enable us to choose correctly, but it still won't be easy. Being a Christian is a blessing beyond compare but it does involve making sacrifices in order to please our Lord and Master Jesus.

In the next illustration, Jesus talks about a king going off to war against another king. The king needed to determine if he was able to go to war or did he need to surrender; he needed to make a decision. Jesus wants us to realize that we should not put off making a decision So, don't be hasty in becoming a Christian; take time to examine and consider it first, but don't put it off either.

We might say, 'I'm not ready for this so I'll go live it up and party and get it all out of my system and then some day down the road when I've sowed my wild oats, then I'll revisit this whole Christian thing'. Though I would admire your honesty in saying you're not ready, I wouldn't admire your delusion to think you've got all the time in the world to make your decision. Since no one can predict the future, it's presumptuous to think your life is secure enough to be able to come to God when you're good and ready.

Then Jesus says that if you don't give up everything you have you can't be his disciple. This is extreme language as well. If every Christian gave everything he had away when he got saved he would be destitute and dependent on outsiders for their needs, which isn't right. It's not right for me to take from you when I already had what I needed but gave it away.