Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. –Matthew 16:24 & 25, NIV
I sometimes get revved up in the “nicer side” of Heaven. Don’t get me wrong; following God has its own perks. To know that I’ve been blessed beyond measure; to know that God will fight my battles in a glorious way; to know that my yesterday has died, and my today is my life… To know that those promises and more have been done in my life!
However, I –like any other puny human- forget that there is a bitter, rather grim side to this walk: This life is not my own. I am called by God to die to myself. (sic) Okay, for many, this seems awkward (how in the world can I die to myself, if I’m as good as a horse!?), but it’s the truth: I ‘m not living to myself anymore.
But what if God is asking me to give up the things I mostly desire in my life- my dreams, my education, my family, even my country-, in order turn my back to this world and follow Someone I cannot see in this lifetime? Will I be willing?
That question will truly never be answered until the time comes…