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Growing up, my family was no stranger to the gym. For almost twenty-five years, my dad would wake up at 5am to meet with a group of about twenty-five guys to play basketball at the YMCA.
I was usually never able to participate because I was too young, but occasionally, someone would get hurt or not enough players would show up to play and I got to fill in.
Considering I was too young to actually guard anyone or even get a rebound, the team would just use me to “cherry-pick.” My job was to stay on the opposite end of the court by myself and when the opportunity arose, they would throw me the ball for an easy lay-up. This infuriated everyone that wasn’t my teammate. I remember a guy coming up to me after the game saying, “When you get older, I hope you can actually play defence.”
The interesting thing about coming to Christ is that we, ourselves, are master “cherry-pickers.” We scan the Bible looking for anything that we can conform to our own comfort.
"25 Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it)." Romans 1:25 AMPC
And because we are only picking out things that are beneficial to us, we never actually grow or come to an understanding of the expectations that God has on believers.
In the Bible, Paul was told by God that he would be imprisoned and he shared everything that would take place because of his decision to follow Jesus.
"23 Except that the Holy Spirit clearly and emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. 24 But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God’s grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy)." - Acts 20:23-24 AMPC
Today, however, whenever we are reading scripture and something makes us feel uncomfortable, we usually look over it. The reality is that most of our peers are doing the same thing. I have noticed that we even cherry-pick our friends. Anyone who is going to confront us or make us feel uncomfortable about our dedication and devotion to Christ, we lose communication with them.
"4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?" - James 4:4-5 AMPC
You can tell if you’re a cherry-picker based on the amount of times you’ve talked to someone who you think is more devoted to Christ than you are. The reality is that avoiding confrontational people will help you remain in comfort on earth, but will probably also help you remain in discomfort for eternity.
"24 But woe to (alas for) you who are rich (abounding in material resources), for you already are receiving your consolation (the solace and sense of strengthening and cheer that come from prosperity) and have taken and enjoyed your comfort in full [having nothing left to be awarded you]. 25 Woe to (alas for) you who are full now (completely filled, luxuriously gorged and satiated), for you shall hunger and suffer want! Woe to (alas for) you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep and wail!" - Luke 6:24-25 AMPC
The interesting thing about humans is that we cherry-pick the scriptures and the people that make us feel the most comfortable. But the reality is that God also cherry-picks the people who are the most faithful and obedient.
"22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." - Luke 13: 22-24 AMPC
Question of the Day: Since God is the Master of all creation, from the cherries to the people, would the Creator, Himself, pick YOU to join Him for eternity?