CAGED

Safe. Tame. Predictable. Caged. These words describe how I have felt much of my adult Christian life. The pressure is always there, you know, the whole "Don't rock the boat" mentality. When a person does that they upset the natural order of things, the way things are supposed to be, or so we are told. Yet, is this the legacy that Christ left for us? What example did He set for us? Mark Batterson, in his book Wild Goose Chase compares the "rich young ruler with the twelve undomesticated disciples". The rich young ruler turned down Christ's offer because he didn't want to part with all his stuff. He wanted to stay in his cage, where it was safe, tame, and predictable. Batterson notes that the disciples "heard the parables with their own two ears. They drank the water Jesus turned into wine. They filleted the miraculous catch of fish. And they were there when Jesus turned the temple upside down, walked on water, and ascended into heaven." Again, I ask the question, "What legacy did Christ leave us with?" Following Christ wholeheartedly is an adventure! It is unpredictable! It is dangerous! If this does not describe your life, then I propose that something may be off. In the rest of the world, people are dying because they have given their lives to Christ! Yes, it is dangerous to follow Christ! Batterson, who pastors a large church in Washington D.C., profoundly states "I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do to animals." Let's get back to the rich young ruler for a moment. Batterson comments that "I think there was a deep-seated longing within him for something more than simply not doing anything wrong." I think many of us could place ourselves in that category today. Here's the deal then, where do we move from here? We can't play the blame game, because each of us is responsible and answer for the way OUR lives played out. We make the final decisions in our lives. Change is hard; always is and always will be. However, maybe you have just felt over the years that something has been lacking in your relationship with Jesus. I submit to you that what was lacking was ADVENTURE! Release yourself from the cage, allow yourself to roam free once again, untamed, unpredictable, fully submissive to CHRIST!!!!!!!!!! Follow Christ's example and legacy, allow his power and Spirit to work through to do miraculous things! Love people well, change lives, show people Jesus! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!