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What would you do if your daughter came home with a young man you had never met and announces she’s getting married. You have no details about this young man. You don’t know where he is from. You aren’t sure if he has a job. You are clueless to his pedigree. So…being the good parent…you come up to this young man and ask “what are your intentions with my daughter?”. How would you respond if the answer he gives back is, “Well…I don’t know…I’m really just interested in the fun stuff. You know, I want to go to parties with her, show her off every now and then, and, to be perfectly honest, sex…I really just want the fun stuff and the really fun stuff (if you know what I mean. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)” 

If you are anything at all like me…you’d be ready to destroy this youngin. I’d lose my mind. I would no longer be allowed in public and would be in the news. My word, I’d lose my ever-lovin-mind. How dare someone make this statement, am I right?!?! Are you with me on this folks?! I tell you what! Boooooooyyyy….that child would learn the hard way. Try Jesus…not me… because I throw hands. 

Ready for the cold water? Isn’t this the way we treat our relationship with Jesus? We treat Jesus just for the times we need or want something. We want worship just for the funzies. We want juuuuuuuuuust enough Jesus for fire insurance. We treat God, like He’s our part time lover. We call on Him when we need Him or when things ain’t going so hot and then we ignore Him when life is going great. We all want to go to Heaven but we ain’t really feeling the whole John 14 “keep my commandments” or the concept of “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength” found in Deuteronomy 6. 1 Samuel 12 challenges us to “serve the Lord with all our heart”, but wouldn’t half way be good enough? No. Not at all. God wants us to go all in. God doesn’t want sloppy seconds. He created us. He wants us to truly want Him. God desires we long to be with Him. God wants us filling our hearts and lives with His goodness. He wants to hear from you, see you grow, watch you deepen your faith. He wants you to want Him. You can’t go with God and stay where you are. Make the needed adjustments. We can’t expect eternal glory if we half tail our faith. 

Don’t be lukewarm. Go all in. Heaven awaits. 

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com.