Carrying the Cross

I read an article in Christianity Today this week which had a great line in it. It said, “faith systems that don’t compel transformation are empty”. I thought about that for a second and decided I agreed with that statement. Transformation is a scary thing. People naturally hate change. We hate when things around us change and we also hate when we have to change. But one reason for the church’s existence is to change us. Remember why we became Christians in the first place – to become different people, better people. When we received Jesus, we became new creations, the old has gone the new has come. If we continue to be the same people, then the two thoughts that jump immediately to mind are: “why are you going to church” and “why did you want to be a Christian”? Jesus tells us straight out that he did not come to make our lives easier, he came to change us.

Matthew 10:34
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

A sword brings lots of change! Jesus did not come to bring peace. He came to divide. There are those who are with him and those who are against. God wants no one to perish, but he will give people what they ask for. He knows that there will be people who do not follow him. Since this is true, he also knows that just his coming will bring argument and anger. Humanity will be split between those who know him and those who choose not to know him. And he is clear that there is no middle ground. You are either fully on his side or you are not at all – there are no fence straddlers on his side.

So let’s assume we are on his side; what is it that he wants from us? As we are in the Lenten season, we recognize that Easter is nearing, that the anniversary of Jesus’ death is impending. We will read about how Jesus died on the cross for us. We will remember his words of his Last Supper. We will recall his final teachings before his death. And as we recall his death – the crucifixion and his burial – we recall his words to us as regards the cross:

Matt 10:37-39
  37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus tells us that we need to take up our cross and follow him. He says that if we don’t do that, we are not worthy of him. Recognize that this is not a salvation issue. He is not saying that if you do not take up your cross, you are not saved. There are two types of people in the world: those who are committed to something and those who are not. For example – you might be an athlete. Let’s define that. Someone who likes to complete in a sport. If we want to be sticklers, we might add that they should be good at it. So maybe you’re an athlete because you are good a certain sport. But are you a dedicated athlete? Will you sacrifice everything to play the sport you love? There are lots of athletes, but not all of them are committed. This same goes for everything – you can be something – a lawyer, a doctor, a police officer – and you can be a committed one or an uncommitted one. It also goes for Christians. Once we decide we are on Jesus’ side, we next have to decide whether we are going to be committed or uncommitted.

So what does it mean to be committed?

Luke 9:22-24
  23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Here Jesus tells us that we need to deny ourselves. Listen. Did you hear that? That was the sound of all the uncommitted Christians moaning. People hate change and that goes for Christians too. But Jesus has left us on this earth so that we can grow. It’s that word – sanctification. Growing to be more like Jesus. So what does it mean to deny ourselves? It means not doing everything we want whenever we want. It means discipline. You cannot be a disciple without discipline. You cannot be a baseball player without a baseball. You cannot be a mathematician without math. You cannot be a politician without politics. You cannot be a disciple without discipline. You cannot do whatever you want whenever you want. Sometimes, you cannot do it ever. Sometimes you need to postpone doing it. Sometimes it’s doing something you really don’t want to do. Jesus showed discipline when he went to the cross. He asked God if there was another way, but when there wasn’t, he went to the cross. He denied himself. Similarly when he was in the desert and he was tired and hungry and Satan tempted him, Jesus didn’t do what he needed – he did what he should. Finally, we also learn from this verse that we need to do this daily. Every day. This is what it means to be a disciple. If we do this, we will save our lives and not lose it.

Our lives were not meant to be something that we do while we wait for the Kingdom. Jesus died so that we might have everlasting life. But he also died so that we might have life now – life more abundantly. We can have an abundant life. How? Jesus just told us – by denying ourselves. When we carry our cross, we lose our lives. When we lose our lives, we find this abundant life Jesus is telling us about! Why do we insist on holding on to the old ways when Jesus has outlined very obviously what we can do to have a better life? We need to let go of the things that cause us to sin, the things that cause us to grieve, that cause us to hurt or to anger or to be anxious. When we do this, we will find life more abundantly! The life that Jesus provided us! God is not just a God of promises – He gives us many promises – but He is a God who provides for us in a way as to fulfill His promises!

So what do we need to do? Sometimes it’s good things. For example: deciding to read your Bible – not because you have to, but because you realize that there is eternal value in it and that it is the Word of God and will bring you deeper into relationship with Him. Another example: deciding that you are only going to say good things about people. Making the decision that, if you have nothing good to say about someone so you will say nothing at all, is a great discipline that can reduce anxiety. When you are always looking at the negative things in people, you become negative. But looking at the positive things in people will make you positive. Another example – keeping your body healthy. Maybe that means going to the gym or working out at home. Maybe that means eating better foods – less bad fat, less bad carbs, less bad sodium - more good proteins and vitamins and…vegetables.

Of course, it could mean getting rid of something bad. Maybe you need to stop smoking. Or drinking. Maybe you need to stop being angry and letting God take care of it. Sometimes denying yourself means doing something you really don’t want to do. Maybe it’s time to visit those people you’ve been putting off, making those phone calls. Maybe it’s being dedicated to God on Sundays and not to work or the game. Maybe it’s making sure you get to Bible study every week and not just when you can. Think about it – if you miss one bible study every month for three months, that’s just three times. If you miss one bible study in three months, that one absence. Doesn’t seem like a big deal – it’s only two extra weeks. But if you miss three out of twelve weeks, that’s only 75-percent attendance – we can’t even call that a “c-plus’. If you miss one out of twelve, you’re over 90-percent – or an “A”. That’s the thing about discipline – it’s the little things that make all the difference.

Are you ready to be on Jesus’ side? Are you ready to carry your cross? Are you ready to deny yourself? If you are, you will lose you life – but you will find it. You will be divided by the sword, but you will have abundant life. Is that too hard a sacrifice for you? Then how about if you were to die instead? Would that be easier? But Jesus actually died. He died for you and me. He didn’t want to die, but his love for us was so great, that he did it anyway. His love for God was so great, that he did it the way God wanted it to happen. If Jesus can do this for you, is it really so much for him to ask that you change for him? Too often we give up things for Lent. But this year, let’s just give up things. Not for Lent, but forever. It’s about discipline. Let’s be disciples. Then, we will find abundant life and God will bless us with “Well done Good and Faithful Servant”.

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Last modified: March 18, 2007