Lord, Lunatic, or Liar

I enjoy the writings of C. S. Lewis. A man who came to faith through atheism. One quote in particular has really stirred me in the last month.

"“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”"

We don't like the idea of ultimatums. We want more choices in life. You know... "Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us". I want 31 flavors even though I always order vanilla.

Matthew 16:13-17 (New King James Version)
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Who do you say that He is? Who do you say that He is when it comes to your family, finances, career, health... Every area of your life in which He is LORD I wish to commend you for. In the other areas of your life what have you decided thus far? Is He a LUNATIC? Would you be nuts to hand over that portion of your self? Is He a LIAR? Maybe there is a part of your life that you don't believe He can be trusted with.

Think about it. Even those of us in the kingdom haven't handed over everything. I am right there with you. I am increasingly aware of Christians who give just enough to get in. When it comes to eternal life they are fully on board. When it comes to becoming a disciple or a friend of Jesus they are holding out believing they can do better elsewhere.

They say things like...
-Drugs and alcohol provide more peace than Christ can.
-Casual sex is a lot of fun with very little risk.
-My church cannot be trusted with 10% of my income.
-...

While these things may seem silly, many Christians display their lack of faith with their actions. I am not speaking to areas in which we struggle with like an addiction. I speak to those areas which we truly just cannot accept Jesus as Lord. I have areas and it is possible that you might as well. I encourage you to examine yourself. Ask Christ to help you find peace through Him instead of your own crazy ideas.