To follow Christ means to sacrifice all that we hold dear for a higher more ultimate reality. It involves death to the flesh, forfeit of what we desire, and ultimately the destruction of ‘I am’ in order to take on the rich fullness of thee ‘I AM.’ Taking on the life of Christ is what we were created for since the beginning of time. To embody the very nature of His Spirit in us is most assuredly the greatest most painful process one will ever encounter; yet when it is finished the result will be glory.
Only two days ago I was talking with a man who is staying on the property with my team here in Honduras. He spent the first thirty minutes of our conversations telling me about his story. How he is from Costa Rica; he grew up in a wealthy home and learned English by going to high school in San Francisco. Once back in Central America he began living his own life, which soon landed him in jail on account of murder and other offences. While in jail he found hope in Christ and promised to live the rest of his days for His glory alone. Miraculously he was soon released and since then has spent the past six years of his life traveling from country to country, living out of a tent with his wife, preaching the Gospel of Christ on public buses.
Francisco’s story caused me to begin and question what it truly means to live out the Gospel. It seems to me that to often, myself included, Christians preach a gospel that is ‘easy.’ We say “we must lay down our lives” but do we know what that truly means? We say “go to Church, attend Bible study, give to the poor if you have extra money . . .” but what do we do when God says “give it up”, “stop”, or “go!” What then I ask, because I am not so sure we have an answer.
I am not writing this to discourage or affront anyone. This is more for myself than any, but I do want us to seriously question whether we are truly laying down our lives for Christ or are we simply playing Christianity? This life is no game, it’s ending in real and the final outcome is life or death. Therefore, my question is this, “what is stopping you?” Is it lack of finances, the security of comfort, pressure from family, or fear of rejection? The list goes on and on but it still leaves us with no excuse. When the call comes our only obligation is to say yes; the rest is up to Him.
There are few who heed the call to follow. They are often questioned, misunderstood, and hated, but none of that matters, for their identity rests in the One who never changes. The call to follow comes with a great price, but with that price an even greater prize: one that never fades away. I choose to follow.
Journal Entry: October 9th 2013
