Abnormal "Pingback"

Rarely will you find me "cheating" by dropping "trackbacks" or "pingbacks" to another poster or "blogging on a blog," as it were.  But, I was just sent a great post by someone, and I can't help but repost it for my readers.  It appears my interest in the book "Radical" by David Platt is not in vain.  Forgive me for taking a lazy option this week, but you've just got to read what this guy says.  (Oh yeah, and my last blog was about the book to which he is referring!)

Wherever Whenever

Posted on May 10, 2010 by mrjvo

It’s been a little while since my last post.  It’s not that I’ve been neglecting this new found discipline of writing but rather because I didn’t know how to write what I’ve been processing until now, or at least I’m now attempting to try and write what I’ve been processing.

I’ve been a wreck to say the least over the past few weeks.  My head has hurt and my heart has ached, much to the credit of a book called Radical written by David Platt.  This book isn’t the end all be all of books but shoot, it about did me in for.  It’s easy for me to put this book near the top of the favorite’s list but it definitely takes the cake as the most challenging book I’ve ever read outside of scripture.

Platt made me question my own faith on numerous occasions.    I won’t spoil the book for any of you, but just in case you are wondering… he doesn’t say anything that Jesus hasn’t already said.  Although it seems almost foreign at times, it’s nothing new.  I found myself having to answer the hard questions: Do I believe Jesus and the things he said?  If so, am I going to obey?  And that’s what it boils down to.

Am I following after the Jesus of the bible or the Jesus I have formed.  One friend of mine said “God created us in His image, and we turned around and created Him in our image.”  I find myself at ease with the scriptures that I’m comfortable with and pulling a “Thomas Jefferson” and cutting out the parts of scripture that inconvenience me, or at least my life would say so.  Before we know it, we’re following a Jesus that looks an awful lot like us.

Look at Matthew 19:28-30 – Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last and the last first.

When you read that passage, what are the parts that you are drawn to?  Sitting on thrones, receiving a hundredfold, inheritance… SIGN ME UP!!! Did you catch the other parts of that passage?  Read it again.

Matthew 19:28-30 - Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last and the last first.

Did you skim over the parts that said “you who have followed me”….leaving your house, family, and possessions behind, may be counted as last?  That must’ve been the fine print.  Didn’t see that.  Do you know what the kicker is?  Peter is asking “Jesus, we have left everything behind.  What do we get for following you?” Matthew 19:28-30 is what you get.  You get all of verses 28-30.  You get to sit on thrones.  You get to leave your house, family, and possessions.  You get an eternal inheritance that carried a price tag of God’s only Son.  You get to be counted last for the kingdom.  You get it all!  You get Jesus.

The call isn’t just to believe in Jesus but to follow Him.  Wherever He leads.  Follow.  Whenever He leads.  Follow.

Go.