When Is an Answer, Not an Answer?

​Good day. Today we are posting the newsletter When Is an Answer, Not an Answer? written in 1999 by our dear brother, fellow steward and ambassador of the mystery of Christ, Larry Gazelka, Our prayer is that you will be blessed and encouraged by this newsletter. Have a very blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. ***You can download a copy of the writing for personal use only by clicking on the Built Anew Ministries Archive page link above and scroll down to the year 1999.

​When Is an Answer, Not an Answer? 
v21n6

So many times in life we ask a question with preconceived thoughts and ideas of what we think the answer should be. When the answer does not fall within the parameters of what our predisposition was, we then disregard the response. We not only do this in every day life, but we many times do this also with God.
 
In all reality, we could phrase the title of this week's newsletter in several different ways. We could also title it; "When is a question, not a question?"  Many times, we will ask a question with the only real purpose of being able to promote and address our own agenda. By doing this, we are trying to bait people into a confrontation, by asking questions that will bring about answers in which we will be able to support our views.
 
Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? (KJV)
 
In this case of the lawyer, he was not really seeking answers, but was rather promoting self-justification. He (the lawyer) was going about to establish his own righteousness. This lawyer did not really want to change, as he was quite satisfied with the life that he had. The answer that Jesus Christ gave the lawyer, was not the answer that this lawyer wanted to hear. For the lawyer was in the same category as the priest and the Levite that had passed by the person wounded and dying in the ditch.
 
Many times in this life we will make attempts to justify ourselves before Father. Instead of heeding Father's counsel through, we will become like the lawyer, and try to justify our decision as well as our walk. Often times, when Father asks a question of us, we do not respond fully or truthfully. Rather, we become as the lawyer did in his conversation with the Lord.
 
We will always be able to find excuses when we do not want to hear that which Father is asking of us. We will always think within ourselves that we have found a legitimate reason for our decision. Why do we call Him Lord, Lord, and do not the things that He is asking of us?
 
Luke 9:57-58 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (KJV)
 
The people that watched the life of Jesus Christ of Nazareth observed a man that was able to perform miracle after miracle and feat after feat. Whether it was bringing about the healing of someone with the issue of blood, raising someone from the dead, to feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes, they marveled at what He was able to do. So what we have to understand here, is that this certain man, when saying that he would follow Jesus Christ was not as difficult as it first appeared, since one would think to himself that anyone that followed Him would be given this power.
 
Yet the response of Jesus Christ in verse fifty-eight is not the answer this man expected to hear, nor wanted to hear. The answer that Jesus Christ gives here, is not the same as the answer that we hear from many preachers in the world today.
 
Jesus Christ plainly tells this man that the birds and foxes have places to make their homes and rest, yet the son of man has no place to lay His head. Is this the answer this man expected to have? Is this the answer we expect to hear? Do you think this man followed Jesus Christ after hearing this response? Will you follow Jesus Christ after this response?
 
Matthew 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (KJV)
 
We are to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, Christ. Yet many of the messages that are being taught within the Church today, have us seeking the wealth of the world, rather than the riches of God. If you had to live as Jesus Christ did, would you still follow Him? If you had to depend on your every need to come from Father, would you still follow Him? Not always the easiest thing, to walk by faith, and not by sight.
 
Luke 9:59-60 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (KJV)
 
And yet another was spoken to and asked if he would follow Jesus Christ. However, his reply was that he had personal matters, family matters to attend to first. Things more important to tend to, than what God was asking of him. How often are we too still responding in this manner. Many times we put life on this earth ahead of living forever with God. We tend to things that are dead, or will lead to death, before the very bread of life.
 
Many a time we will boastfully tell the Lord that we do want to serve Him, and that we will do all that He asks of us. Then, when we hear the Lord's response, it is not the answer that we wanted to hear. That is when an answer is not the answer, that answer we wanted to hear. Why is this? Could it be that we had already formulated in our mind the answer that we not only expected to hear, but wanted to hear? And when it is not the answer that we wanted to hear, will we still do that which we were asked? Do you think that this man followed the Lord, or went back and tended to the dead things that hindered his path?
 
Luke 9:61-62 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (KJV)
 
And yet still another said, I will follow you Lord, but! How often is it that we do the same thing with Father? We set conditions that we have to have met first, before we will do that which He asks of us. We tell God what we think is necessary before we will do that which is being asked of us.
 
The majority of the time, we want to run back to the world and get their approval before we will do that which has been asked of us by God. This man wanted to run back to his family and friends and get their approval before following the Lord. How often does the world approve of anyone following Jesus Christ? What would be their response if this man was the one that provided for the household? What we also have to see and hear here, is that this man was allowing the tempter another opportunity to talk him out of that which had been asked of him by God.
 
Many are called, but few are chosen. And this is not because God loves certain people more than others, for we know that He is no respecter of persons. We have to keep fresh in our mind, that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. The reason few are chosen is that few will respond to Father's call. Most respond with "yes Lord, I will follow you, BUT!"  If we do not know who Jesus Christ is, why would we ever want to follow?
 
What has been your reply to God?
 
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ
Larry Gazelka