What Shall We Do with Christ?

If you were given the opportunity to do whatever you wanted to do with Jesus Christ, what would it be? It never is easy to put oneself in a hypothetical situation and give an accurate description of what you would do, but this question is slightly different. While this question is hypothetical in nature, it is also quite real. Every person in history has had to face this question, and every person living today must also face it. What one does with Christ determines his eternal destiny. There are two things one can do with Christ: One can either crucify Him or follow Him.

The New Testament is full of people who chose to crucify Christ. Of course, there are the Jews who literally had Him crucified, and the Romans who literally did the crucifying, but there are also many people in the New Testament who crucified Jesus again! Who are these people who crucify Christ again? "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6). In referring to those Jews who had obeyed the gospel but turned back to Judaism, the writer of Hebrews states that they (those Jews who turned back to Judaism) crucified Christ again. Who are they who do such a thing, but those who reject Him? It is a serious thing to reject Christ, for "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). A person who desires to escape the punishment which will befall those who crucify the Son of God will accept Him and obey His teachings! Paul wrote, "...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). The only way to be saved from this punishment is to obey Him: "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9).

Thankfully, the Lord calls, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). Jehovah is not a God of malice and hatred toward His creation. Quite the opposite; He is a God, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). Since it is not God's desire for mankind to be lost, and it is true that mankind will be lost if he rejects Christ, then it must be true that God has provided for us a way of escape. Indeed, God has given mankind a means of escaping the pollutions of the world--"through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 2:20). We have "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). Coming to know the Lord involves taking on His teachings (Matthew 11:28-30). They are easy and light. Obeying the Lord is not grievous (or "burdensome") (1 John 5:3). In fact, in the keeping of God's law, there is great reward (Psalm 19:11). To those who love His appearing, there will be given a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8).

So count the cost (Luke 14:28-33): Is it worth leaving this world for that crown of righteousness? The question is posed to you, friend: What will you do with Jesus?