It’s Too Easy
Have you ever not done something because it was too good to be true? Have you ever not done something because it “must be harder than that.”
What about your life? Are you stuck in an addiction, a lifestyle, or life history that you’re not proud of? You know you aren’t living like you should, and you may feel like you’re on your way to a hell or eternal punishment of some kind. Now it’s too late. You’re old. You’re tired. You’ve been doing this too long that you can’t change anything at this point. Yeah, you would definitely have made some different choices if you could go back, but the dang time machine is broken. So, you just bide your time with whatever time you have left, make no real changes, and hope that whatever happens after this life is better than what you’re expecting or deserve.
The Christian message is just this:
It’s never too late. If there is breath in your lungs, there is time to completely change course. All it takes is a change of direction, a looking in the right direction. Turn those feet, even if you can’t walk yet.
Amazingly, even though it was written thousands of years earlier, this very principle was foreshadowed long before there was a baby in a manger.
In Numbers 21, we read about the Israelites as they continued to travel through the wilderness and, well, tick off God. Despite having witnessed insanely supernatural miracles, they continued to doubt and even rebel against God. So, He punished them with “fiery serpents” (snakes) who began to bite the people, with the result being death. However, he provided a way of recovery – a way to be saved. They had to march 500 miles in a crabwalk position while reciting the entire book of Genesis.
Just kidding.
No, He commanded Moses to fashion a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. If anyone was bit by the serpent, all he or she had to do was “look at the bronze serpent and live.” That’s it. Turn your head and look at the dang bronze snake and you’ll live.
Not a hard thing to do.
We see something similar with “Naaman the leper” in 2 Kings chapter 5. Naaman was a royal commander in the Syrian army who had leprosy. One of his Hebrew slaves told him about Elisha the prophet who lived in Samaria who could heal him. Out of desperation, he sought out the prophet, travelling to his country and bringing with him a fortune to give to the prophet if he could be healed. Elisha heard he was coming and when Naaman arrived at his house, he just sent his servant to tell Naaman “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” He didn’t receive the gifts Naaman brought with him and didn’t even come to the door. He responded like I might if I was making breakfast for the kids and the FedEx driver showed up.
“Hey, kiddo, go open the door and get the package. Say thanks.”
Naaman wasn’t happy. He’d come all this way, brought all these gifts, and now this supposed prophet, who couldn’t even grace him with his presence at the doorway, wants him to go bathe in a crappy, dirty river. Screw that.
Naaman went away in a “rage” with no intention of doing the simple act. Luckily, his servants gave him some sound advice. “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 2 Kings 5:13 (ESV).
Naaman reluctantly went to the dirty Jordan River, bathed, and of course, was healed.
It was simple. In fact, so simple, that he almost didn’t do it.
I think that’s the turn off for many, if not most, people to the Christian faith. “Wait, I can just trust in some guy to save me and he will? Nah, too easy. That’s not real. I’ve got to earn it. I’ve got to stop drinking, stop looking at filth on the internet, give a bunch of money to the poor and then I’ll be good.
I’ll get right on that… maybe.
What if the “thief on the cross” had that mentality? Do you know who I’m talking about?
Jesus was crucified between two criminals, who, unlike Jesus, were worthy of the death penalty. Both, despite each facing the same punishment of death, began to mock Jesus. However, after hanging on the cross, one of the thieves realized who was beside him. The other thief, remaining in ignorance continued to insult the Christ and, “heaped abuse on Him”, stating “Are You not the Christ?” … “Save Yourself and us!” Luke 23:39 (BSB). The other thief responded to the first, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” He continued, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” Id. at 40-42. Jesus, showing mercy until the very end, replied “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Id. at 43.
You couldn’t get any easier than that. You couldn’t get any later in life than that… literally. If it wasn’t too late with the guy on death row with the lethal injection already started, then it’s not too late for anyone.
I’m not saying you need to confess something you don’t believe in. I’m not saying you should confess Jesus is Lord if you don’t believe there is any evidence for that. I’m not saying you should state a simple prayer if you don’t believe. What I am saying that simply because something is easy doesn’t mean it’s not true. In fact, the best decision you could ever make is that easy.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:14-15 (ESV)
Love you all.
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