Couple days ago I read an article on The Gospel Coalition where the author published a speech he shared with a graduating class of High School seniors. In the article, he says:

“Of all the decisions you’ll face this year, the most important one may be whether you get up and go to church on the very first Sunday when no one is there to make sure that you go to church.”

I think back to more than 20 years ago when I left home for the first time and lived in a dorm in a college in Bombay. That first Sunday alone, I knew I had to go to church. I was completely out of my depth in my new environment and knew I needed Jesus to get me through that stressful season.

Every Sunday, I woke up way earlier than my roommates, got breakfast alone, and took two buses to get myself to a church across town.

No, I wasn’t some super-spiritual, holier-than-everyone-else kid. I was just overwhelmed by my circumstances and desperately needed God.

Even though my parents who took us faithfully to church every Sunday were not in the same city, I knew that I could be grounded in my faith only within the family of Christ.

In the Bible, we read of a priest Jehoiada who helped King Joash in his role as the ruler of Judah. While Jehoiada was around, King Joash focussed on the right things. He worshipped God and rebuilt the temple that his predecessors had destroyed.

2 Chronicles 24: 14 says, “As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord.”

“As long as.” Three simple words. A seemingly innocuous phrase.

But it speak volumes. As soon as the priest Jehoiada dies, King Joash abandons the God of Israel. He listens to those who pander to his ego and worships false gods.

“As long as” — how often have we allowed our faith and our obedience to God to hinge on those three words.

As long as I don’t have a late Saturday night, I’ll make it to church.

As long as the kids let me sleep through the night, I’ll have my quiet time.

As long as there’s a “good” speaker at church, I’ll log on to the service.

As long as the worship is at the right volume, I’ll attend the praise and worship evening.

As long as they don’t “interfere” in my life, I’ll be part of small group.

As long as they don’t ask me to serve, I’ll join this community.

Maybe we don’t quite verbalize our thoughts, but do we insert caveats into our Christianity? Do we include fine print in our faith?

If our obedience to God becomes conditional then it will affect the condition of our hearts.

Instead, like the psalmist, can we declare: I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. (Psalm 104: 33)

May the breath in our lungs be the only thing that our commitment to God hinges on.

Sometimes, when I look back, I want that passionate faith of my 20-year-old avatar. There were no “if’s” or “but’s” or “as long as” to her faith. She knew she needed God. That was the bottom line. Without any theological training, she understood that commitment was meant to be costly—not convenient.

May this be our prayer—that we might not grow so comfortable in our faith that we become lukewarm in our commitment. May we not add disclaimers that can dilute our obedience.  May we ask God to help us understand the cost, to carry our cross, and to follow after Him as long as we live.

 

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