John 6:66—Because of what Jesus said, many of His disciples turned their backs on Him and stopped following Him. (CEV)
2Timothy 4:3,4—For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (NIV)
Nothing thins a crowd like truth. If it were easy to follow Jesus, to say "no" to selfish desires, the world would be teeming with disciples of Christ.
Recently I spoke to a woman intent on divorcing her husband. She is not interested in remaining faithful to him because she no longer loves him or has any feelings for him. Her needs take priority over her children and how they will be affected. Her anger at being emotionally ignored over the years excuses her from forgiving her devastated mate.
To assuage her guilt for hurting him she runs to those who say, "Good for you! You deserve better. Do what feels right for you." She turns away from the One in heaven who heard her vows. The One who died a brutal undeserved death in order to extend an eternal marriage proposal to an unfaithful humanity. She forgets that she has ignored Him for the most part. She does not want to hear of her responsibility to Him. Why? Because He asks her to choose His harder right instead of her easier wrong! Though He promises that His way will change her sadness to joy, she would rather secure temporary happiness. She is the epitome of the crowd. A restless mass of u-turning drivers all intent on finding speakers that inspire them to follow the four letter god—SELF. . What is lost?—the Truth!
Inspiration
