The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 16:24-27,
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.'"
The above verse is often thought of in terms of priorities. What is most important? Your life here on earth with all the benefits it can provide, or life in the hereafter with all the benefits it can provide?
This morning this passage, while speaking to priorities, speaks to me more about clarifying what reality really is. Rather than weighing what might be the best experience to pursue (earth with its pleasures versus heaven with all it provides), Jesus appears to me to be pointing to the choice we have to make regarding which understanding of reality to embrace.
Obviously, if there is no God, if there is no heaven, if there is no resurrection, then squeezing all we can out of this life would be best. However, if those things really exist: God, heaven and resurrection of the dead, then living this life in terms of what enhances the next is clearly the best, "whoever loses their life for me will find it."
If there exists any reality that is not real or genuine, it has to be this life. God created mankind and placed them in the garden of Eden. Mankind turned its back on God and was thrust into this existence in which we find ourselves. The nature of this existence, as designed by God, cloaks his presence. We can't see God or touch God. He can only be perceived through faith. We cannot see the spiritual dimension with its realities and inhabitants, but it is there - all around us.
If there is any temporary "make-believe", it is this life. To give our lives for this earthly existence at the expense of the eternal and true reality would be a foolish choice.
"Whoever loses their life [this earthly life with its rewards] for me will find it [what life was meant to be by our Creator]."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.'"
The above verse is often thought of in terms of priorities. What is most important? Your life here on earth with all the benefits it can provide, or life in the hereafter with all the benefits it can provide?
This morning this passage, while speaking to priorities, speaks to me more about clarifying what reality really is. Rather than weighing what might be the best experience to pursue (earth with its pleasures versus heaven with all it provides), Jesus appears to me to be pointing to the choice we have to make regarding which understanding of reality to embrace.
Obviously, if there is no God, if there is no heaven, if there is no resurrection, then squeezing all we can out of this life would be best. However, if those things really exist: God, heaven and resurrection of the dead, then living this life in terms of what enhances the next is clearly the best, "whoever loses their life for me will find it."
If there exists any reality that is not real or genuine, it has to be this life. God created mankind and placed them in the garden of Eden. Mankind turned its back on God and was thrust into this existence in which we find ourselves. The nature of this existence, as designed by God, cloaks his presence. We can't see God or touch God. He can only be perceived through faith. We cannot see the spiritual dimension with its realities and inhabitants, but it is there - all around us.
If there is any temporary "make-believe", it is this life. To give our lives for this earthly existence at the expense of the eternal and true reality would be a foolish choice.
"Whoever loses their life [this earthly life with its rewards] for me will find it [what life was meant to be by our Creator]."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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