“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” __ Jim Elliot.
I read the quote above and immediately thought of this Bible verses:
“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will save it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to REALLY live. And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process?” _ Mark 8:35-36 (TLB)
It truly is laughable when I think of how we cling to this life. Many times I am severally hit with the truth that no matter what I do, I do not own or control this life. We do not wake up daily because we have the power to give ourselves life. Hardly does anyone wake up thinking, I could die in the next few minutes. Rather we make plans for a whole year. How prideful can we be?
I heard it said we think like this because eternity is planted in our hearts. But this life/flesh has been tainted with sin and isn’t going to live forever. This life must die and be resurrected in a spiritual body. That is the life that will live forever/eternally (Read 1 Corinthians 15). But where do we live eternally? Heaven or Hell? In-fact “to live eternally” only applies to those who will live with God forever. Alienated from God in Hell is not called, “life” rather it is eternal death/second death/depravity.
But eternal life starts here on earth. It begins when we GIVE OUR LIVES to Jesus to RECEIVE the life he offers. Emphasis on “give our lives.” This is not just what we do when we say the “salvation prayer”, it is a daily giving of our lives to/for Jesus and the gospel to receive eternal life. It’s a daily dying to self, a daily carrying of our cross, a daily choice of the narrow way, a daily giving of our lives for the gospel even in the face of persecution and suffering, it is a daily working out of our salvation.
Because we know have an unspeakable joy and unexplainable peace, true life here and even more that awaits us. He truly isn’t a fool, the man who gives up his mortal, limited & vain life that he cannot keep to gain an immortal, unlimited and eternal life. The later he cannot lose. Because Jesus lives, we live. Our life is anchored in him.
“By your endurance, gain your lives” _ Luke 21:19.
God Bless.
You are Eternally Loved.
Growing God's Eternal Family 