December 1 Eternal View

Luke 10:23-25 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
 
SOMEONE comes to you and says, “Give me your life, and I’ll give you that one thing you most desire.” You would refuse such a ludicrous offer, wouldn’t you? What point would it be to have something if you must die for it?
   But is this not what we are “sold” each day? Regardless of where I’ve traveled and people I’ve met throughout the world – including the man in the mirror – there is a compelling desire to use our lives to get some earthly desire. Sin’s effects on our mind is to seek the temporary rewards at all costs with no mind on our eternal reward.
   That’s why Jesus’ words here are so shocking. Think of his listeners’ – even his closest disciples’ – response to, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  The cross was the cruelest of executions. Crucifixions were done sometimes En masse as the Romans punished Jews, who revolted against them or enemies they conquered. A death on the cross was agonizing and humiliating. It was designed to dehumanize its victims and quiet other thoughts of rebellion. Certainly the disciples who had just confessed to Jesus, “You are the Christ of God.” were now wondering what tortuous cost the Christ was requiring of them.
   The cost is this: Give up yourself. Die to your own desires and live for my purposes. If you don’t your desires will consume you. You may achieve the material and temporary things you desire. But if you put me aside to pursue your own desires at all costs, the cost to you for what you want will be your eternal life.
   Think for a few moments on “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” This is a frightful picture. Denying Christ and keeping your own desires, you purposefully give up eternity, so you can have the temporary.
   This is not to say material possessions are bad or condemning. This is to say, “Your Lord’s call on your life is the highest purpose in your life.” Keep your eyes on eternity. Die to the earthly things that keep you from Jesus. Live for his eternal purposes.
 
Prayer: Lord God, reveal to me the temporary things to which I forfeit my soul. I pray I die to myself and I live for Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.