The campaign trail is heating up. You’re following the competing candidates carefully, still undecided as to who will get your vote. Fortunately for you, both candidates are coming to your town, and you are able to arrange your schedule to hear them both.
You attend the first candidate’s rally, and hear once again the commitment to the platform. No new information, but you get a feel for the person from the passion in tone and content of the speech. You leave impressed. You think to yourself, “the other candidate needs to bring an A game in order to win me over.”
The moment arrives, and you eagerly enter into the auditorium where the rally has become. The intensity of the crowd is overwhelming. Finally, after some warm up speeches and introductions, the candidate takes the stage. You will never forget that speech, no matter how hard you try…
“If you want me to be your next leader, you must hate your father and mother, your children – even your own life – and follow me. You have to be willing to die for the cause of which I am the champion. Think it over. Don’t make a rush decision, because the cost for you will be very high, and you don’t want to find out too late that you can’t cover it. Defeat is a real possibility – you may become a casualty in this cause. And one last thing, if you don’t follow me, your life is basically worthless. So, who’s with me?”
The speech writers and campaign director would certainly be fired at the end of the night. Not that it would matter, because if this stump speech happened in the US, it would be the last for that candidate. Nobody would support someone who calls for that level of fanaticism.
But Jesus wrote his own speeches, and he managed his strategic life all by himself. He gave a speech like the above several times – which is why it was remembered – and he lost the campaign, his friends, and eventually his life (Luke 14:25-35). Those who chose to maintain allegiance also, eventually, met martyrdom as well.
Some might conclude that it was a complete waste of time and life. One has to wonder what possible motivation could there be to warrant such allegiance?
One word: truth.
The disciples believed that what Jesus taught, lived, and breathed was simply the most true Way they had ever witnessed. More true than their government. More true than their religion. Not just factual correctness, but a deep-flowing “realness” that they couldn’t deny. In fact, to not follow Jesus would be to choose living death. To follow Jesus may mean a shorter life, but at least it would be real.
When we love God most, we discover that we are able to love all others more than we could before, and that we are even able to love ourselves in healthy, appropriate ways. When we love God most, we realize that whatever the cost is worth the cost. When we love God most, we experience the quality of our lives increase dramatically. Life is full flavored, and we tend to spice up the world around us.
Do you love God most? Have you experienced the incredible, real paradox that the truth of Christ is the most real reality available? Will you choose to embrace the Way in spite of the high price of your life? What holds you back? What keeps you from trusting more?
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