What Jesus Did! 'A Child of Decision' — Luke 2:33-35

While Jesus came to bring goodness and light, he also came to a world infected by sin and enslaved to the principles of darkness, decay, and death. His life was not about his ease and escape, but about decision, confrontation, and truth. Darkness had to be driven away. Decay had to be destroyed. Death had to be defeated. Accomplishing these objectives meant taking on everything the powers of this world had used to maintain their hold on the hearts of people. Yes, liberation brought joy to the rescued, but it meant a high cost for those who wanted to preserve the status quo and did not accept the liberation. Jesus came to force us to decide. He came as Lord, not as a sweet, do-gooder pal. Only when we surrender our hearts to him as Lord does he become our friend and brother. There is no middle ground. He is not just a good guy, come to do good things and to make good people happy. He is Savior, Lord, and King. All pretenders, and their lackeys, opposed him. Our joy was Mary's pain. Our victory was Jesus' agony. Our hope was God's sacrifice. So let Simeon's words remind you that you must make a decision about this Jesus. There is no middle ground or middle emotion.