When Jesus spoke of his...
Illustration
When Jesus spoke of his forthcoming death and resurrection, Peter rebuked him for speaking of such things, which, in turn, earned Peter a rebuttal from Jesus. "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men." (Mark 8:33)
There are many of us, as Peter, who seek to grasp the spiritual, while still holding on to the secular. And though life is a mixture of the two, Christ made it clear that the spiritual must come before the secular.
In a television movie some years ago, actor Henry Fonda says to one of the characters in the film, "I see that you wear both suspenders and a belt; how can I trust a man who can't even trust his own trousers?"
It was a humorous line in an otherwise violent movie, but the symbolism of that statement could be applied to the spiritual dilemma of many today. We often reach out for the hope of heaven, while being very careful not to release our hold on the world. Like the man with both suspenders and a belt, we are not quite sure our faith will hold up; so to be on the safe side, we try to use a combination of faith and practicality -- in a sense "covering both bases."
And yet, Jesus says to us, as he said to the disciples, "Whom do you say that I am?" And, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
We must make a decision.
There are many of us, as Peter, who seek to grasp the spiritual, while still holding on to the secular. And though life is a mixture of the two, Christ made it clear that the spiritual must come before the secular.
In a television movie some years ago, actor Henry Fonda says to one of the characters in the film, "I see that you wear both suspenders and a belt; how can I trust a man who can't even trust his own trousers?"
It was a humorous line in an otherwise violent movie, but the symbolism of that statement could be applied to the spiritual dilemma of many today. We often reach out for the hope of heaven, while being very careful not to release our hold on the world. Like the man with both suspenders and a belt, we are not quite sure our faith will hold up; so to be on the safe side, we try to use a combination of faith and practicality -- in a sense "covering both bases."
And yet, Jesus says to us, as he said to the disciples, "Whom do you say that I am?" And, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
We must make a decision.
