Business tycoon T. Boone Pickens once told a graduating class, “Don’t fall victim to what I call the ‘ready-aim-aim-aim syndrome.’ You must be willing to fire.”
This came to mind as I reflected over John 5:31-47. In this passage, Jesus laid out evidence for his claims to be equal with God. Consider this evidence, but don’t fall victim to the ready-aim-aim-aim syndrome. There comes a time to act on what you’ve considered.
“It’s risky to get out on that limb, but that’s where all the fruit is!”
It’s like what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (LB), “Test everything that is said to be sure it is true, and if it is, then accept it.” Some neglect the first half of that verse because they don’t test anything. Others neglect the second half of that verse because they don’t accept what their testing has found trustworthy.
Some of you are considering Christianity. Some of you are young adults trying to decide if Christianity is worth sticking with. Gather information as you go through this process, but don’t let it become just a clever form of procrastination. G.K. Chesterton once wrote to H.G. Wells, “The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”
I’ve met people who want to have all kinds of intellectual conversations about Jesus and then they end up missing a personal relationship with Jesus. Don’t let that happen to you. There comes a time in your investigation that you have to cross the line. There will come a time when you realize that any further investigation is just a personal delaying tactic.
This Sunday at 10am we’ll look at John 5:31-47 where Jesus laid out the evidence for his remarkable claims. Come ready to test everything that is said to be sure it is true. But come ready to accept it if you find it trustworthy. It’s risky to get out on that limb, but that’s where all the fruit is!
--Tom
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