As I lay in the stillness and darkness of early morning, a thought came to me. If you lost everything you had, could you still rise above it, still have faith in God, keep a smile on your face, and keep moving?  If no one asked you to participate in events or encouraged you in your endeavors to follow Him, could you still smile and keep going?  If you had no education but an education in life, if you had no friends because of status which divides you from their circles, could you still dig deep within your heart, not blame anyone, keep trusting in Him, and keep moving?  If you lost your children, your health, your worldly possessions, and had nowhere to go, would you still have faith in Him, keep giving, keep smiling, keep trusting in Him, could you do it?  If you lost your, titles, stocks, bonds, 401K plans, position and no one called you friend, would you still keep a smile on your face, rise above it, keep trusting in Him, and keep moving?

I wonder if we don’t miss the greater lesson.  And then it occurred to me. We must be willing to lose it all.  Money, titles, position, houses, lands, children, parents, our spouse, friends, health, and everything we hold dear in this life to follow Him.  And is this not what He was trying to teach the rich young ruler?  Is this not what He was teaching us?

He is asking in 2018 if we too are willing to give up everything to follow Him.

It’s very easy to sit in the comfort of a 2000 square foot home, eating the finest foods, wearing the finest clothing and shoes, eating at the finest restaurants, looking out on a well-manicured lawns, admiring a new or newer car which sits in the drive, anticipating that two week vacation, getting calls from those who look up to us, or being called on to speak at various events.  If you lost all of those things, could you still rise above it, keep a smile on your face, keep trusting in Him, and do all without murmur or complaint?  Could you?

Are we, in our quieter moments of reflection, willing to give it all up to follow Him?  To allow nothing in this life to deter us.  To be willing to be broken, friendless, and penniless to follow Him.

Could you stand and watch as your child you carried and loved from conception be denied, betrayed, beaten, ridiculed, mocked, and then listen to a blood thirsty mob scream for your son to be crucified, and in tears watch helplessly as all these events were taking place and still keep faith?

Faithful men and women of God throughout Scripture were willing to give up friends, family, worldly possessions and titles to follow Him.

Could you?   Would you?

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.”      Matthew 16:24

“The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up:  what lack I yet?  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:  and come and follow Me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful:  for he had great possessions.  Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”     Matthew 19:21-24

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”     Matthew 16:26

“My soul, wait thou only for God; for my expectation is from Him.  He only is my Rock and my salvation:  He is my defence:  I shall not be moved.”    Psalms 62:4-6

Eileen Light