Christ: Is There Another?

“Lord, to whom shall we go?”

John 6:68

For more than a dozen years I have met weekly with a man for fellowship, prayer, and accountability. For the first several years the relationship passed through several veneers. Each time we peeled back another layer and became more transparent and vulnerable, the relationship leaped to a higher (or deeper) level. The culminating stage is a simple acceptance of each other.

Through the years each of us have agonized through our fair share of grueling problems and trials. We have often said to each other, “The Christian life is a hard life.” The other nods in knowing agreement. A short “woe is me” speech usually follows.

Then, as we commiserate, we always come around to the same supreme question, “Where else would you go? If there were a better way, I would choose it. But as hard as it is, Christ is the best answer.”

In the weakest moment of our faith, in the darkest hour of doubt, we turn back to Jesus. Why? “‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’” (John 6:68). Hard as life is, without Jesus it is no life at all, but death and despair.

Here is the idea to get hold of: The only reason we don’t desert Him in our weak moment is because of His commitment to us, not because of our commitment to Him. “‘Have I not chosen you?’” (John 6:70).

We don’t turn back to Him. Though embarrassing to admit, if we could find a better way, we would. When we find out He is not the God we wanted, we are sorely disappointed. His teachings are hard (see John 6:60). He won’t give us what we want. He won’t work the way we want Him to work. “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (John 6:66).

The best way is this: I will change. I will want Him and Him alone. I know that there is no better way (for I have tried and failed with so many false gods). And I accept that the reason I know He is the only way is that He chose me, not because I chose Him.

I SURRENDER

Lord Jesus, I will not resist You. I have told You about all the things I want from You. Now tell me what You want from me. Thank You for choosing me. I know that if it was not for Your love for me I would never have found You. In my darkest hours, I have thought of leaving, but to whom would I go? Amen.