What Do You Really Want?
If someone would ask you this question: “what do you really want?” What would be your answer? Would it be financial security, a long life, happiness, companionship or health? Jesus asked this question to people on several occasions. The blind wanted to see, the lame wanted to walk and the sick wanted to be healed. Most people don’t think beyond their need when thinking of what they want and most people go to Jesus only at the time of their need.
Jesus, in His mercy and compassion for the lost, extends His hand to heal and denies no one, but is this the end purpose of His goodness? By meeting our needs at any given moment, is He fulfilling His purpose in our lives? In Romans 2.4, it says that “…the kindness of God is meant to lead you to repentance.” Jesus came to save us from sin, not to just give us a happy, blessed life. Sin has separated us from God, not our problems. Repentance initiates a change in our very nature and direction. It takes us from “me-centeredness” to “God-centeredness”. It establishes righteousness in us. This is a right standing with God and a right living here on the earth.
The reason many enter the church, but do not stay, is that they are after a quick fix to their problems. Some even want to “follow Jesus” as long as it is popular and easy, but when they are faced with sacrifice, self-denial and a call to holy living, they disappear. They are like the rich, young ruler who was told to sell all to follow the Lord. He just couldn’t do it. Jesus warned us that there would be many “false converts” in the church. These are those that want a happy life with no cost; those who would be present to receive, but who would never come to repentance. There would be tares and wheat, good fish and bad fish, wise virgins and foolish virgins, sheep and goats, etc., all in the church at the same time. It is repentance makes the difference.
What do you really want and why do you want it? Think it over.
Scriptures to meditate on: Matthew 7:21-23, 13:24-30, 47-50; 25:1-13, 31-46 and Mark 4:16-17