Will We Choose Jesus, Or "Keep Our Options Open?"

While waiting in a drive-through line at one of our local fast-food restaurants a few years ago, my wife and I found ourselves behind an old pickup truck filled with junk. The truck's tailgate and rear bumper were plastered with several slogan printed stickers, some too weather faded to read, while others were relatively fresh.

Looking at the rear of the truck, we noticed the sharp contrast between two bumper stickers that we could read. One sticker proclaimed, "Jesus Christ Is The Only Way" while the other sticker read, "Beer, Chicks and Pickups." It was obvious to me that the driver of the pickup was "keeping his options open."

As odd as the contrast of the messages on those bumper stickers were, I wasn't too surprised, because many so-called "religious" folks attempt a similar dichotomy in their lives. They want to appear religious (at least religious enough to be viewed as such by the world around them). Yet, they want to immerse themselves as thoroughly in the habits and consciousness of the world as they can get away with (or believe they can get away with).

Human nature has not changed since the days of Elijah the prophet, who challenged the Israelite nation, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but Baal, follow Him" (1 Kings 18:21). It wasn't as though Israel had abandoned the Lord altogether. They called themselves His people (2 Kings 11:17). They exalted His law and covenant as the stamp of His approval of them above all other people on earth (Exodus 24:1-8).

But as Elijah correctly observed, the Israelites were "keeping their options open." While professing allegiance to the true and living God, they wanted to remain free to enjoy all of the carnal benefits of worshiping Baal, the idol of the Canaanites. The bumper stickers that my wife and I observed on the rear of that pickup truck carrying junk, illustrate the fact that the Israelite attitude is alive and well today! It is unfortunate that some Christians harbor some measure of that attitude, although we may not be quite so blatant in displaying it. Even though we may call ourselves "Christians," our secular lives often reflect "Baal-like" lifestyles.

If we genuinely believe that "Jesus Christ is the only way" (John 14:6; cf. Acts 4:11-12), we'll have to forego the carnal pleasures of this world — i.e., the "Beer, Chicks and Pickups." On the other hand, if we crave what the world offers, we'll forfeit any pretense of standing with the Lord's army. Our Lord affirmed that, "No one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). The Lord isn't interested in disciples who continually "look back" over their shoulders at the world they should have left behind (Luke 9:62; Luke 17:31-33). 

Dear reader, let us therefore inspect the tailgate of the pickup truck we're driving through life. Do our bumper stickers send mixed messages to the world? Do we follow Jesus with our lips, but Satan with our actions? (Matthew 15:7-8; cf. Isaiah 29:13). Will we make a determined choice of "choosing Jesus" (Joshua 24:15), or will we "keep our options open?"

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets