You’ll be happy to know that I chose to finish the sermon! And, of course, the football game was waiting for me when the sermon ended. But as I drove home to catch the end of the game, I thought about how silly of a plan that really was to begin with. Did I really think I’d be able to learn anything from the sermon while I had a whole football game playing down in the corner of my phone? As the kids say these days, SMH (*shaking my head*).

My mind immediately started thinking about several different Bible passages that remind me that as disciples of Christ, we can’t have it both ways. We’re either with Jesus, or we’re not! There is no middle ground, no neutral response. We can’t watch the sermon and the football game at the same time. Paging through the gospels, the four books of the Bible that tell the story of Jesus’ life on earth, you’ll see many times when something Jesus said or did elicited two polar opposite reactions from people. The people were either all in or all against—no neutral ground, no double purpose screen. In fact, this was evident from the very beginning when Jesus was born…

• After Jesus’ birth, shepherds and angels worshiped Him (Luke 2:8-20), while Herod tried to kill Him (Matthew 2:13).
• After Jesus drove a demon out of a mute man, some were amazed, while others said He was casting out demons in Satan’s name (Luke 11:14-15).
• Once, when Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, some were upset and tried to seize him, but “many in the crowd put their faith in him” (John 7:30). Later in that same chapter, Scripture says, “Thus the people were divided because of Jesus” (John 7:43).  
• When Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath and then called out the synagogue ruler for questioning His actions on the Sabbath, Jesus’ opponents were humiliated, while the people were “delighted with all the wonderful things He was doing” (Luke 13:10-17). 
• After a different healing, when Jesus healed a man who was born blind, the response was again divided (John 9:1-16).
• Soon after Jesus taught about the shepherd and His flock, as recorded in John 10, the Jews’ divided response was seen once more. Some thought Him to be demon-possessed, while others disagreed, saying a demon could not open the eyes of a blind man (John 10:19-21). 
• When Jesus arrived in Bethany for the final Passover meal before His death that He knew was coming, Mary anointed Him with an entire jar of expensive perfume, while Judas and the chief priests and teachers of the law plotted to arrest and kill Him (Mark 14:1-11).
• Even as He was dying on the cross, the two criminals who were being crucified beside Jesus responded to Him in opposite ways. While one hurled insults at Him, the other defended Him and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:39-43).

Jesus stirs up people’s emotions, and His gospel message continued to do the same even after He ascended into Heaven. Dramatically different responses to the Good News can be seen in the book of Acts as the early church was built and nurtured, and these polar opposite reactions are still seen in the world today. Bottom line? There is no neutral ground. You cannot sit on the fence about Jesus—you’re either with Him, or you’re not. This verse from Luke sums it up powerfully:

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” -Luke 11:23

The Message translation of this same verse says:

“This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.” -Luke 11:23

So which side do you fall on? Are you with Jesus or against Him? Neither is not an option, and this isn’t just fun and games. Why not? Because when Jesus returns and restores His eternal kingdom in relationship with His believers, there will be no middle ground. Every single person on earth will either join the Lord for a life of everlasting joy or be destined to an eternity spent without Him. To me, the choice seems pretty clear. 

While I wait on Jesus’ return, I want to make sure my words, actions, mindsets and heart motives are clear each day. I don’t want to be found sitting on a fence—with one foot enjoying worldly pleasures and the other grasping for a foothold in the presence of God. I don’t want to make any more failed attempts at watching a sermon and a football game at the same time. (Of course, watching football isn’t a sin, but the illustration makes its point, right?) My eyes would not have been able to successfully watch both things on my phone screen at once, which reminds me of the importance of being intentional about where I fix my eyes. So as I aim to be counted among those who are amazed and delighted in response to Jesus each day (to the best of my human ability), I pray this verse over myself, and I encourage you to pray it, too: 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. -Hebrews 12:1b-2a