Life selfishly lived ends in death, but life given away for Christ’s sake results in eternal life. Believers are responsible stewards of the gift of physical life and spiritual life!
This mad quest for what we see as success or means to having happiness absorbs so much of our time and energy to the place that we miss the central point of Life. What good would it do to make all that money, then die, leave it all behind, and spend eternity empty-handed? We are here for bigger business than to make money. We are called to represent the interests of the King. If we miss that, we miss everything.
When we give our lives to Christ and become His disciples we have to let Him be the lead. We give up the driver's seat and become a passenger in this walk on the believer's side of life. Many of us do not want to suffer or give up the things we have worked hard for and earned in this life. Careers and aspirations of the good life are our visions and dreams. I'm reminded of the movie The Devil's Advocate in which Keanu Reeves who plays Kevin Lomax sells his soul to the devil for a career deal of a lifetime. His mother who is a Christian warns him about the sinful life he is about to step into trying to reach his goals. Kevin in the process loses his wife, his self and finds out that he had not invited in the determination of success, but that he had opened the door for Satan to gain control over his soul. Kevin blames Satan for everything and Satan replies to him I didn't do all this you did, I just set the stage.
See Satan in all honesty sets the stage, but it is up to us to decide whether or not we take the deal. Kevin had the opportunity to leave at anytime, but he could not resist the pleasure of winning and gaining all that he could desire. At any cost he wanted it all! Be as wise as the serpent. Self sacrifice is the God way to finding yourself, what kind of deal would it be if you did end up with everything you want and lose yourself, I think that is the worst deal ever. Satan has made many a offer that still sits on the table, to trade eternal possesions for what is temporary. He's nudging many of us right now, and saying what's the verdict deal or no deal. I suggest you walk away with what you possess now and that's Christ, tell Satan to go to Hell. Give him the real business, stand and resist him, let him know, I command that you flee in the Name of Jesus, for there is definitely, no deal!
Great post pastor. It is a challenge to have lead your entire life and then see that you were not really driving at all. We live and learn. For many of us, we love for God to drive, but we are scared of the road ahead cause we are not controlling the steering. But like you said, "No deal" and just let Go and allow God to take over.
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