Jesus in the Way

Evelyn had been singing Walter Hawkins' song "Jesus is the Way" around the house. Well, as is often the case, Spencer started singing the song he had heard his mother singing. I almost missed it. But when I listened closer I heard him singing, "Jesus in the way, Jesus in the way."

I thought it ironic that he had captured the true essence of how some of us Christians feel. We want to be Christians (or at least identified as Christians publicly) until He calls us to do that which cuts across the grain of our unsanctified and unholy desires. When we don't like the cross he calls us to bear or the sacrifice He bids us lay on the altar we too in our hearts sing, "Jesus in the way."

Listen to the people of Judah living in Egypt just prior to them receiving judgment from the Lord.

Then all the women present and all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to idols -- a great crowd of all the Judeans living in Pathros, the southern region of Egypt -- answered Jeremiah, "We will not listen to your messages from the LORD! We will do whatever we want. We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and sacrifice to her just as much as we like -- just as we and our ancestors did before us, and as our kings and princes have always done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For in those days we had plenty to eat, and we were well off and had no troubles! (Jeremiah 44:15-17, NLT).

That's how some of us feel. We feel we had more fun, less financial troubles, greater opportunities to career success. But ever since we gave the preacher our hand and God our heart, things haven't been the same. Had to trade in the Infiniti for an Impala. Jesus in the way! Gave up Alaskan Halibut at McCormick and Schmick for a Filet-o-fish at McDonalds. Jesus in the way! Moved from a penthouse to a rowhouse. Jesus in the way!