Ever have those moments in life where YOU think everything is just fine until someone comes along, busts your bubble, and shows you differently?  For me, one of those moments began with a brief encounter in the lobby of Burger King. 

I had been a Christian for just a few months – my enthusiasm was palpable; my energy was high; and my focus was already skewed.

A traveling evangelist by the name of Joseph Jennings was in town and was scheduled to speak at my church the next day, but that night, he was in line with a few church leaders ordering his Whopper like everyone else. 

I introduced myself, shook his hand, and he quickly noted the jacket I was wearing…well, actually, it was all the embellishments to the jacket.  The entire front was plastered with pins advertising Jesus – pins of various size, shape, and color were affixed to every square inch of the front with snappy sayings like, “Jesus loves you” and “You are special”.

We finished ordering and went our separate ways. 

The next day, I arrived at church excited to hear this man speak.  Word was he had quite a testimony – he’d been a genuine hoodlum who had found Jesus.  He even had scars to show just how checkered his life used to be.

As he began to unfold his story, I sat there glued to my seat, hanging on his every word. 

And then, it happened. 

Smack in the middle of his talk, he stopped and asked, “Where is that girl that I met last night who had the jacket with all the Jesus buttons on it?  If you’re here, stand up right where you are.”

I glanced around the room, as did the 400 other people sitting in their seats, to see if “that girl” was present and would stand up.  My heart was racing.  I started to sweat.  He repeated his question and his invitation for “that girl” to stand up.

I finally stood – not real sure my legs were actually going to support me.  Every eye in the room turned and felt like laser beams going through me as he said, “Your pins are colorful and pretty, but your heart is far from the Lord.  You’re a La-Z-Boy Christian…”

I was mortified.  A La-Z-Boy Christian??  I was promoting Jesus!  How could he say this to me?

However, after I had time to process this, I understood clearly what he was saying:  in just the few months that I’d been serving the Lord, I’d already become relaxed to my eternal calling.  I was enjoying the cushy rainbows and sunshine ideal of calling myself a Christian, but wasn’t willing to suffer for His name, take personal action to advance His Kingdom, or minister His Word to a hurting and broken world.

“If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me,” Jesus said. (Matthew 16:24)

I had exchanged my cross for a La-Z-Boy; I wanted to call myself a Christ-follower and enjoy all the “abundant life” parts but distance myself from the suffering and discomfort that comes with it. 

Joseph’s gracious rebuke reminded me that my life is not my own; it has been bought at a price.  My life belongs to God and I wake up daily with a fresh opportunity to take up my cross and follow Him – during the good days and the ones dotted with trials.  He is more than worth it.

In the words of pastor, teacher, and missionary Francis Chan, “Following Christ isn’t a label we can display when it’s useful.  It must be central to everything we do and are.”

Until next time, Grace and Glory!