Carol J German

Several years ago, we went with another family to the Bahamas for Christmas. Before going, my husband and my friend planned the trip. Renae researched where to stay and what there was to do while Rob planned the plane tickets and rental car. While Renae and Rob did the grunt work up front in planning, the rest of us went along for the ride, and we had a great time. We have fond memories from that trip. Let’s look at how going along for the ride isn’t a good thing.

While I have been studying Deuteronomy, yesterday God had me thinking about Judas. He was the one who betrayed Jesus. I found myself in John 6 and 13. In John 6, many disciples were deserting Jesus. They were done following Him. Jesus asked His Twelve, “Are you also going to leave?” After Peter’s reply, Jesus continued, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”⁷⁰

Around 6-12 months had past, according to commentary, and now in John 13:18-30 you read more about Judas. Jesus prophesied from the Old Testament about what was going to happen; see Psalm 41:9. Jesus became deeply troubled and said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me!”²¹ This caused the other 11 to wonder whom He could mean. Jesus responded in verse 26, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” He gave it to Judas and he ate it. Now, you read how Satan entered him after that.

Even before Satan entered Judas, Jesus called him a devil. This made me ask why. What was missing inside Judas that caused him to follow through with what he did? He was up close and personal with Jesus and the other disciples. What went awry?

He went along for the ride.

According to grammarschooling.com, “Along for the ride” describes a situation where someone participates passively in an activity or event without actively influencing the outcome. Judas was enjoying the perks of being in Jesus’ presence while not letting Jesus transform him. It’s like my trip to the Bahamas. I went along for the ride and enjoyed myself without the work of prepping beforehand.

Judas remained passive to Jesus’ words; unresponsive.

Judas had a divided heart. He enjoyed what Jesus offered while also loving what the world offered. You could say he had one foot in God’s Kingdom and the other in the world. You could also say that he never chose to fully believe Jesus. His faith was half-hearted or lukewarm.

Judas lived disobedient to God.

To simply enjoy the things of God while not walking in obedience to the voice of God was Judas’ misstep. And he paid dearly. Many are going to pay dearly if they don’t wake up from their blase’, indifferent attitudes. Judas did not fear the Lord. He enjoyed Jesus’ company, yet his heart never was moved by Him.

How about your heart? Would Jesus call you a devil or one of His own? Are you going along for the ride or are you fully engaged with the Trinity? Have you learned biblical jargon well enough to act like you belong but you really aren’t? God knows which one you are. How honest are you with yourself? Judas realized when it was too late. Satan deceived Judas and he has been deceiving way too many people and he continues to lure many away from truth with subtle lies.

But hallelujah, today is the day of salvation!

Hebrews 3:15 ESV, “As it is said, ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'”

Mark 1:15 ESV says, “And saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'”

And Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord that He may have compassion on him, and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.”

Your soul is starving for the truth and the truth is Jesus. God will pardon you and lead you to Himself. There is nothing in this world more than this! If you have Jesus, do not stop! Keep going deeper and deeper and deeper with Him. Like in John 6, many stopped maturing and the world became more desirable. There is no room for idle faith. The faith of God is always learning, growing, maturing, and becoming more like Jesus. A child of God never ceases to study God’s Word consistently. A disciple never stops talking to God and is interested in listening and obeying the Holy Spirit.

God is calling each of us to a vibrant faith where Jesus is the first priority in our lives!