Do you sometimes ask yourself, “Is a relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior the best option for my life?” Do you sometimes wonder maybe if you should be Jewish or Muslim or maybe even Buddist or Hindu? Maybe you even think well why even practice a religion, why not just be rich or powerful or spend all my time trying to get a million likes on Facebook or a million followers on Twitter. Or maybe you think, why can’t I just exist? Just live my life and do whatever I want as long as I don’t hurt anyone and when I die it’s all over. Why can’t I just go to work and increase my finances and be happy? Why can’t I just drink till I’m happy? Why can’t I just do what I want to make me happy?
In Luke 19:41-42 It says, “Now as He drew near, He saw the city (Jerusalem) and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!…”
In Luke 23:18-21 It says, “And they cried out at once saying, “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabas” – who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Why do we settle for second best? Instead of trusting and putting our faith in the Lord we so often put our faith and trust in things that are not Godly. We put our faith in the creation instead of the creator and every time that will lead to disappointment. In Luke 19 we read about how Jesus was entering into Jerusalem and as he was looking over the city he wept. He did not cry because He didn’t have the latest shoes or clothes. He did not cry because He did not have a girlfriend or wife. He did not cry because he was lacking in his finances. He cried because he came to save all those who would believe and many of the people of Jerusalem did not truly accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus knew He was the only way to true life and true joy and it hurt him that he had lived amongst these people yet they were still choosing something else as first in their lives.
In Luke 23 we see a more literal display of what existed in the heart of the people. They were faced with the decision to set Jesus Christ, an innocent man, free or to set Barabas, a murderer, free. With some chiding and convincing from the the Jewish leaders the people decided to set Barabas free and to crucify the one who had healed them, the one who had helped the blind see, the one who had fed their spirits and bodies, the one that had fulfilled the scriptures, the one who had loved them.
Why do we settle for second best when Christ is standing right there? Why do we think anything will treat us or love us better than the perfect love of Jesus Christ who died for us. This world offers some wonderful things that the Lord has intended for us to enjoy in decency and in His order, but first and foremost we must get our lives in order and that starts by deciding who is at the head of your life. As for me and my house we shall follow the Lord!!