Sensible?
By Matt Smith |
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I was at work the other night talking to a guy in Colorado on the phone. I forget his name (I have it written down somewhere) but he lives in Colorado. We talked for about 30 minutes about all kinds of crap, mostly not related to work. I asked him about his mortgage and he asked me how much I paid in rent. I told him how cheap it was and then explained the situation, 5 roommates and a ghetto. He told me I was crazy for living down there and I was like nah, you just need faith. And as I said that, it hit me. Faith. I have known you needed faith, but faith. Faith is the key. Faith makes you do things that are seen as crazy to other people. When you have faith, you don't really act in a sensible way. That’s what being a Christian is all about. It’s not about being careful or sensible, it’s about loving at all costs.
I met with my girlfriend's parents earlier this week and they expressed their fear for her life in my neighborhood. I understand, I don't want her to die either. Her dad said to me "I think God gave us a brain to know where to go and where not to go." I think that is true. I think God gave us a brain to know where to go and where are we supposed to go? Everywhere Jesus would go. Jesus was not a "sensible" guy. He preached against everyone in power. He was fearless. He told a man who had the power to save his life that he had no power but power that were given to him by God. Jesus told the Pharisees they were not going to heaven. Becoming a Christian is not a sensible thing to do. You will suffer as Jesus suffered. Look at all the disciples. All of them were beaten and killed. Making a choice that will get you beaten or killed is not considered "sensible" by most people.
So lets walk through a scenario. Lets say a guy walks up to you, pulls out a gun and asks if you are a Christian. If you say yes, he will kill you and if you say no, he will let you go. This is similar to a situation of a Christian girl in the Columbine shooting a couple years back. Some people have said they would say no, because God will forgive you and you can do more with your life if you are alive. At one point in time, I think I agreed with that. I am no longer like that. Why? Because of a story I read in "foxes book of martyrs."
A weak Christian, Nichomachus, was brought before Optimus (governor of Asia A.D. 249-251) and ordered to sacrifice to the pagan idols. Nichomachus replied, "I cannot pay the respect to devils that is due only to the Almighty." He was immediately placed on the rack, and after enduring his torments for only a short time, recanted his faith in Christ. As soon as he was freed from the rack, he was seized with great agony and fell to the ground and died.
Now I am not saying this happens to all who choose not to suffer for Christ, but holy crap, can you imagine seeing God right after you decide not to suffer for Him? It was cool to talk to the guy on the phone, he asked me a really awesome question. He said to me, "Let me ask you a question man, how come the only pictures of Jesus I see are white, blonde hair and blue eyes?" I was so excited he asked that, he is getting baptized this weekend, so please pray for my new email friend. I will end this with a quote from Denisa, a sixteen-year-old girl who was among the observers of Nicomachus' death. She said, "O unhappy wretch, why would you buy a moments ease at the expense of a miserable eternity."
 Matt Smith is a follower of Jesus and chase house community member who is making an honest attempt to bring heaven to earth. You can read more of his writings at www.thebigyellowoneisthesun.blogspot.com |
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