Committing to something before fully understanding the commitment is rare! It goes against all logic and reasoning used in human affairs of every generation. Then there is the question of motivation--the question of why?
I'm reminded how the modern Jew interprets the commitment of their ancestors at Sinai expressed in Ex.24:7: "And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient."
Those ancient ones actually committed to fulfilling His commands before hearing them because of their covenant with Him and His with them. Therefore, they read it saying all that he has spoken we will do, and hear ("obedience" implying hearing to be obedient as they interpret it because they had yet to hear it all.) They will commit to do before hearing what it is to be done, is their interpretation.
Critics would say they should first have listened to and discovered all that He was commanding and if it was within their power to do them, then accept them, if not, they were obligated to reject them, especially since they were not only making a commitment for themselves in their time but for every Jew who would come in future generations.
That covenant, that bond to their God, remains so strong they would give their life's blood to see their prodigy awaken to their same consciousness of their commitment. The Apostle Paul carried within him to his death his desire for the awakening and commitment of both his Jewish kin and those of us born of a different blood: "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? " - Romans 11:13-15. "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:..." - Romans 9:3.
Perhaps Job sums it up best in his conviction when he uttered these words: "Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." - Job 19:23-27.
For both Jew and Gentile the same question is asked in every generation. You have asked it. Please allow me to let Jesus speak to this eternal question of every man--you?
In his encounter with Martha before raising her brother from his death four days earlier, He addresses the heart of this matter: "Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? - John 11:23-26.
If you believe there is a God and you believe you are distinct from all other humans, in possession of your own soul, to whom would you commit for its eternal destiny? When the disciple Thomas hesitated in his commitment to the Risen Christ, "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." - John 20:29. Cannot it be said that Jesus was speaking of you today?
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