ANALYSIS PARALYSIS

I Was Just Thinking About - ANALYSIS PARALYSIS.

While working on a graduate degree and writing required papers, one of our daughters has encountered a professor who is entrenched in her views regarding white supremacy. To indicate she is "set in her ways" would be a classic understatement. "White Supremacy" has little to do with the subject matter at hand. The course work is presently dealing with the cross-section of all cultural viewpoints that impact how people are to be approached and for which they are to become recipients of purposeful care. Even though this is in the secular realm, there seems to be an obvious application to the spiritual realm as well.

How one views basic matters pertaining to life has to be contained within a parameter that can be identified as cradle to the coffin perspectives. The spiritual factor pertains to the claims made about and by Jesus Christ regarding life's values and choices. For instance, When John is making his introductory comments about Jesus Christ (John 1), he declares in verse 4: "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men." Jesus will reiterate this declaration when he indicates to His disciples (John 14:6) this fact: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." The Amplified Bible renders this text: "I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." Jesus Christ alone is the REAL and ONLY life that will allow one to enter God's eternal kingdom. In John 10:10, Jesus restates His being the source of the only/real life: "I have come that they may have life and have it in all its fullness." The Message paraphrase renders Verse 10: "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

Does Analysis Paralysis become a factor that will keep one from accepting and believing this truth spoken by Jesus Christ? In Luke 18:18-30, a rich ruler approaches Jesus Christ and asks: "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus references the law and the ruler claims to have kept the commandments from his youth to the present time. Jesus then confronts him about his wealth and whether or not he has a focus on compassion toward the poor. Jesus says to him: "Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." The ruler becomes very sad because he was very wealthy. The scenario is very similar to the instance when a Lawyer came to Jesus with a similar question in Like 19:25-37. Will those who are rich and/or well-situated in life be able to easily transition into being that which Jesus is stating they must be? In these illustrations, the answer was No! They were sad in their innermost being and went away sad. Why?

The demand by Jesus would cut through their analysis paralysis and give them a singular choice, namely, eternal life in Him alone. It is summed up clearly in Luke 9:23-24, "Jesus said to all of them: If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." The ruler had to decide between his wealth and purposeful life in Christ. He made his choice as he went away sad because he was wealthy. The lawyer had been reared properly in terms of the standards of God but was unable (incapable) of transferring those standards into a practical compassion toward the multitudes of perishing - the wounded and near-death Samaritans throughout the world.

Are you one who is set in your ways? Are you willing to take up the cross of Christ daily and follow Him? Are you willing to set aside your personal analysis paralysis and find the only/real life in Jesus Christ alone - eternal life that will gain you entrance into God's heaven?

Prayerfully - consider these things with me.