Flu Shots and Faith Shots

This year's flu is just plain nasty. And dangerous. My doctor told me he's really concerned about how high the death toll is in our state this early in the season.

Last night, a friend texted and said, "It's time for me to descend into the nightly coughing abyss." We've had some family members spend some time in that abyss - so we know what they're talking about.

One thing that's unusual this year is the number of younger people who are dying from the flu. One reason, they say, may be that only about 30% of those in the 25-50 age group have gotten a flu shot.

Of course, the theory of a flu shot - or any vaccination, I think - is to give you a small dose of the disease to immunize you against a big dose of it. Or, as I used to tell my kids, "the good soldiers will come out and fight the bad soldiers in your blood."

But I got to thinking as I rolled up my sleeve for my shot. Immunizing is a good thing when it comes to germs. It's a bad thing when it comes to Jesus.

There are some troubling verses in the Bible that suggest that a lot of church folks may be in serious danger of dying from spiritual immunity.

They've been inoculated with a mild dose of the Gospel - just enough to immunize them against really knowing Jesus. Just enough to sit there when the need to trust Jesus is being preached and think, "I'm OK. Sure hope the folks who need it are listening."

I find Jesus' words in Matthew 7 to be some of the most disturbing He ever said. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven...Many will say to Me on the day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'"

Then these chilling words: "I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.'" All that Christianity - and they missed Christ.

It's just so easy to know the words and think you know the Lord. To have Jesus in your head but not in your heart. To mistake agreement for commitment.

What makes me married to my wife isn't agreeing with her. It's that moment when I committed my life to her. It's the same with Jesus.

So like a ball player hitting a home run but failing to touch first base, you'll be out at Home. You played a good game. But you missed first base. You missed walking up to that cross where Jesus paid for our sins and saying, "For me, Jesus. This was for me!" And then consciously giving yourself to the One who gave His life for you.

So the Bible solemnly warns us church folks to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Apparently, you can be into Jesus - but not have Jesus in you.

But the good news is - He's still knocking.

And "today, if your hear His voice, do not harden your heart" (Hebrews 4:7).