Saved!

Saved!

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35 NIV

For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God]. Mark 8:35 AMPC

Context and Charge:

One verse; two versions, same message: Life has many perspectives, dimensions and definitions, and it is important to know which one matters. The world presents to us a good life as one filled with many physical and emotional objects, things you can see, touch, taste or smell. Yes, indeed, God's desire is that I have all I need for this earthly phase, but there is more to life than what my physical senses can detect. Just as the world has its perspective, so does God have His own too. As this is a God who will demand an account from me about the life He has given me, I must have a clear and unequivocal understanding of what He demands from me, and what I must do daily to meet His expectations. This earth is the daily preparation for the eternal. The choices of today impact the future. What's your decision today: which life are you working for?

Today's verse makes it clear that this life God has given me is very important, and it is the key to my eternal reality. How can a man want to save his life? Why would he have to lose his life to save it? Sounds confusing, but the foundation to this verse is in the clear understanding that I do not have any control over my life. It is the lie of the devil for anyone to think his/her life is to be used as s/he pleases. For every product made, the product manual, not the product itself, is the key to understanding how the product works. Am I the one to tell the creator the best use of my life, or am I not to surrender all to the Creator, so He can use my life the way He pleases? It is also a double-edged sword; if I hold on to it, thinking it is mine to use as I please, the reality of eternity is that there is no eternal reward for a life that was not given back to God. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

If I will give my life to God to use as He pleases to the end of my life on earth, I have the assurance that my life will indeed be saved and safe. I must know the limitations of this earthly phase, and seek the limitless, unending life that God offers. It has been said that the best use of a life is to use, spend and expend it for a purpose that outlives it. This verse tells me what that purpose is, and it is simply Jesus. He is the reason my life will make sense and have impact. As I seek to know, please, serve and worship Him, I enjoy the blessings that go with a life that has been secured by God for all of eternity. Don't hold on to what you can't really keep by your own power; let the creator keep it as best as He wants. S/he is no fool who gives up that which s/he cannot keep in order to get that which s/he cannot lose. God's time of favour is here.