“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31-33
On my walk today, Jesus posed this question to me. In other words, if you come to Jesus and gave up everything to follow Him what have you lost. The answer is absolutely nothing of value!
This sounds scary because you live in the world and need financial resources to meet all your needs. Plus, most people want security and relate this to money and possessions.
The call from Jesus to “Come to Me” requires a willingness in your heart to leave everything behind but you are not necessarily required to literally comply with this command. It is about your total and committed allegiance to God and not the world. Abraham was willing to sacrifice His son for God. Jesus gave up His life for you.
You have to be willing to pick up your cross and die to anything that interferes with doing the will of God. It is about your heart condition to make God the priority in your life above all else.
Now back to the question of what you have to lose. You lose the final act of life which is dying with no future and you gain the opportunity to be raised up to live forever with God.
You no longer have to feel guilty or take on condemnation over your actions. Your sins are washed away and you are restored to God.
You lose your bad habits and selfish thoughts and actions. You lose a life driven by self interests and gain a new life filled and directed by the Spirit of God.
You lose the need to strive and function using your own resources. You gain the Holy Spirit (a new power source) who will empower you to meet all the challenges in your life.
You lose the temporary and short lived feelings of euphoria and gain an inner spiritual source to give you unlimited joy and peace regardless of your circumstances.
You lose the void of God and gain a personal and rich relationship with the living God. He becomes your best friend.
You lose the promises of the world which lead to a dead end and you gain the promises of God to give you an abundant life and bless the desires of your heart.
You lose the fear of living in a world filled with evil and the temptations from Satan because the Spirit living inside you is greater than the evil in the world. You have almighty God looking out for your interests.
The rewards from God far out weigh what the world can give you. God’s rewards are unlimited and everlasting! He will give you more than you ask or think. The world can never match this promise.
He is a God of His Word!
Hal Hollister Ministry 