Heart Tracks - The Neutral Zone

 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their crosses and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul' " Matthew 16:24-26......"Deny self or deny Jesus: this is the crux. Remaining neutral is not an option. We have to choose a side." Alicia Britt Chole

I have never been a "Trekkie," one of those who passionately follow the universe based on the television program "Star Trek" which has spawned countless movies and other TV shows. Yet, I did watch enough of the original to know what "The Neutral Zone" was. This was the area of space set by the Romulan Empire and the United Federation that to enter into by either side was to be seen as an act of war by the other. I was not invested enough in the franchise to know if any one actually lived in the Neutral Zone, but I think that in the spiritual reality of today, the population is quite dense. And living there is never seen as an act of war, but instead one that seeks "peace," and at most any price.

Chole writes that the greek word used for deny means to "claim no knowledge or relationship to." It's the word Jesus used both when He called on His disciples to deny themselves and for when He told Peter that he would deny Him three times. It's the word that has to be applied to our lives and the acts, choices, attitudes, and values that we display day by day, moment by moment. How we carry these out will bring testimony that we either claim no knowledge or relationship to ourselves, or that we claim none for Christ. In reality, there is no middle ground, but in practice, we live as if there is. We have created our own personal neutral zones where who and what we deny changes from situation to situation. But the truth is that it isn't neutral at all. Our very being there shows that at root, we've chosen ourselves, and the denial of Him.

Chole makes the valid point that when Jesus called the disciples to follow Him, He did not first say "to the cross." His destination for them was revealed in ever growing parts. It is the same with us. When He calls us, we begin the journey with great enthusiasm. But somewhere along the way, and it will be there for each one, He will reveal the destination....His cross.....and ours. It is a "cross-ward" journey that Jesus knew would be so from the beginning. At some point, we will know it too. When it comes, we will either go on with Him, or we'll seek entry into the neutral zone. Chole writes, "Cross-ward is a commitment that passion (enthusiasm) may make, but only love can keep."

Chole writes, "The cross is the ultimate call to decrease. The cross is a call not to forget our own names, but to live and die for the Name of Another." We decrease and die, He increases and lives....and we live with and in Him..........Where does His call find you today....really? Are you on His road carrying His cross which has also become yours, or, have you sought entry into your own Neutral Zone? If you do, He will not prevent it, but what will be the cost of your citizenship there?

Blessings,
Pastor O