Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2014

Cedarville Magazine | 27 Even right here at Cedarville, it’s easy to fake it. You can blend in and camouflage your spirituality — do all the right things in the right place with the right people. It’s easy to coast through this season of life and miss a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. In the story of Zacchaeus, we see aman steeped in a religious culture. He’dmade all the money he could ever want to make, but still he wasn’t happy. He was curious to see what Jesus looked like and who He really was. I understand how that feels. Growing up in a religious background, I was always around religious people and things. My dad was my Sunday school teacher. My mom sang in the choir. I went to church all the time. I went to a Christian school. We memorized Bible verses and catechisms. I watched people, including myself, coast through. I love academia, but in this environment — as wonderful as all the spiritual opportunities are — it’s easy to just play a game. I know what it’s like to have Jesus in your head but not in your heart. All the academic training and intellectual information in the world can never change a heart. Luke 19:5–6 says, “When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly.” If Jesus has never changed your life, Jesus is not in your life. It is a biblical and spiritual impossibility to encounter the Creator of the universe in His majesty, power, and grace, and walk away the same person while claiming He is your Lord and Master. When you meet God, He changes you and makes you a new person. Zacchaeus had a face-to-face encounter with Jesus and was so profoundly affected that he desired to make things right. Luke 19:8 says, “Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’” Our problem is not that we’re bad people that need to be good; our problem is we’re dead people that need to be raised to life. That only ever happens when you have a Zacchaeus moment with Jesus. He will change you from the inside out. Clayton King is an evangelist and Founder of Crossroads Worldwide. Learn more at claytonking.com. by Clayton King Changed by a Zacchaeus Moment The following is an excerpt from Clayton King’s chapel presentation on February 19, 2014. King presented a two-day series called “A Tale of Two Gods,” and more than 25 students responded to his powerful call to pursue a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Listen to King’s full remarks at cedarville.edu/kingchapel . Watch or listen online at cedarville.edu/chapel to hear these engaging speakers: Aug. 18–21 Fall Bible Conference Bryan Loritts Lead Pastor, Fellowship Memphis Memphis, Tennessee Sept. 2–3 Wayne Grudem Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary Phoenix, Arizona Barry Asmus Senior Economist, National Center for Policy Analysis Phoenix, Arizona Chapel Notes Sept. 18 J. Ligon Duncan III Chancellor and CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary Jackson Jackson, Missouri Sept. 24–25 Erwin Lutzer Senior Pastor, The Moody Church Chicago, Illinois Oct. 9–10 Religious Freedom Summit Full speaker list: cedarville.edu/freedom Steve Green President of Hobby Lobby Emporia, Kansas John Stonestreet Fellow, the Chuck Colson Center for ChristianWorldview Colorado Springs, Colorado Jennifer Marshall The Heritage Foundation, Vice President for the Institute for Family, Community, and Opportunity Arlington, Virginia Oct. 14–15 Will Graham Executive Director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove Asheville, North Carolina Oct. 20 Gary Thomas Author and Speaker Houston, Texas Oct. 30 Staley Lectureship Philip Ryken President, Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois