Obedience to Christ: Greatest Wisdom for Christians

"Sin is never a thing to be proud of," A. W. Tozer reminds us. He cautions that "no act is wise that ignores remote consequences, and sin always does." Tozer extols the wisdom of the man "who has made the God of Jacob his hope and has taken refuge in the Rock of Ages!"

Obedience is a word that we often prefer to avoid, yet it is the heart of the Christian life. Salvation and obedience, Saviour and Lord, are two sides of the same coin. To receive Christ as Saviour is to submit to Him without regard for the consequences. The world might dismiss this as foolishness, but Tozer sees it as the greatest wisdom.

If we consider that all of eternity lies before us, and that our singular earthly life determines the nature of our life in the next, then we must heed the grave danger we face if we persist in pursuing earthly rewards that will surely be consumed when Christ returns. In his work "Obedience to Christ," Tozer seeks to breathe the very essence of heaven into our lungs.

The world may call our obedience to Christ foolishness, but Tozer reminds us that sin is never something to take pride in. Any act that disregards the long-term consequences is inherently unwise, and sin always does just that. In contrast, the man who places his hope in the God of Jacob and finds refuge in the Rock of Ages is truly wise.

Salvation and obedience go hand in hand; to accept Christ as Saviour is to submit to Him as Lord, regardless of the cost. This may seem like a radical notion to the world, but Tozer sees it as the pinnacle of wisdom. If we keep in mind the eternal perspective – that our earthly lives determine our eternal destiny – then we must be vigilant in our pursuit of obedience to Christ, lest we be consumed by the fleeting rewards of this world.

Tozer's exhortation to "Obedience to Christ" is a clarion call for Christians to align their hearts and lives with the will of their Saviour. He reminds us that true wisdom is found not in the pursuit of earthly treasures, but in the unwavering commitment to follow Christ, come what may. In a world that so often celebrates self-will and independence, Tozer's message offers a refreshing and challenging perspective on the centrality of obedience in the life of the believer.

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