Status!

Status!

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Mark 8:35 KJV

Most times, Jesus spoke to his disciples alone, but here, he speaks to both the crowd and his disciples. The words here are for all men; all of us born of women will come to the valley of decision. We must decide what our life's pursuits and priorities will be. We must all decide what we will focus on and what will hold our hearts as we journey into eternity. A critical look at the verse just before today's extract emphasise how important this is: Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. It is an offer to all men everywhere, and all men must follow God's laid down process if we are to arrive at God's defined destination. 

What is God's expectation here? First, I must deny myself and all that my flesh and natural man desire. Until the natural man is broken and dealt with, it will always be a hindrance to what God wants to do. Then there is a cross, which the natural man cannot understand and will not willingly submit to. It is a cross of sacrifice and self-denial; a symbol of surrender to Jesus and his ways. I am telling Jesus that I identify with his death on the cross so I can also enjoy the benefits linked to his life. When I have taken up my cross, I must daily submit to his leading and direction. I have no opinions or desires of my own, as I now have submitted control to God.

When the above is settled, then the verse for today applies. There is an advice as well as warning in today's extract: it really does not matter what my intentions or movies for what I did are, or if I convince myself that what I did was right. If I try to save my own life, relying on ephemeral things such as circle of influence, bank account balances, friends or connections, I will definitely end up being disappointed; God assures me of that. God is saying to me: only if I keep you safe are you truly safe. Only if I preserve you myself are you truly secure. The world has options and will seek to distract you with its many offers; I only have one offer, valid for the time you are on earth: come to me, receive of me the life I offer and enjoy all that I am and have. 

The world really has no life to offer, as it cannot give what it does not own or have. Jesus is called the Way, the Truth and the Life, which means that he is the only one who can secure life for me. The world does not have life because its systems, rules and principles are only valid for a season. God is the God of all times and seasons, who called disobedience sin back in the Garden of Eden, and still calls it sin today, centuries later. He does not change like shifting shadows, and he does not promote or push inconsistent principles. He is the Lord of all the earth, and to whom the whole earth must answer to when the time comes. 

The only way my life can make sense is for me to spend it for the One who created it and will outlive it. I must live for the pleasure of the one who formed, gifted and placed me for impact. Wherever it is I am at the moment is part of God's purpose for my life. I cannot secure my life by myself; I need the help of Life Himself to do so. A life lived for the pleasure and purpose of the One who formed it is well lived. A life lived for the pleasure of self is indeed a wasted one. What am I living for? Who is the inspiration behind my perspiration? What am I spending my life on or what is my life being spent on? Is that thing of this life alone, or am I focused on eternity? Am I really working towards saving my life or am I in the process of losing it? Eternity is too long a time not to be sure of your response. His time of favour is here.