People spend vast amounts of money to extend their lives. One of the newest things is longevity clinics that propose various solutions to gain time and health for a fee. Or consider the over 70 billion US Dollars spent on plastic surgery to “keep that youthful appearance” or have a “perfect” body. And yet with all their efforts, none of this is permanent. Let’s consider Jesus’ words from the Gospel of Mark.
“Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? What can anyone give in exchange for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34–38, CSB)
Having a wonderful life is about the internals—something many folks miss. It comes down to this: who is on the throne in the core of our being? Is it self? Is it an idol of perfection or achievement? Or is it Jesus? Following Jesus means laying aside our hopes, dreams, and desires for His infinitely better and more fulfilling purpose, mission, and desire. That doesn’t mean we take a vow of poverty and join a convent. It means that Jesus is Lord as we live, work, and do life.
What can anyone give in exchange for his/her life? Nothing and everything. There is nothing we can give to gain more life. However, there is plenty that we can do to shorten it. And yet following Jesus requires that we exchange our lives for His life. Paul wrote, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, CSB)
There are many stories and illustrations on what this great exchange looks like. They all come down to this. What we think is so valuable is actually worthless in comparison to what God offers us. And yet He willingly takes what we offer and gives us His best. “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, CSB) Many who don’t follow Christ will scoff and mock our life choices and the “fun” they think we’re missing out on. So what? Some will ridicule the things we do for Christ, feeding the hungry, loving the outcast, and giving of our time and treasure to multiply the Gospel. Again, so what?
The life we live in Christ has more joy, more peace, more love than those others will ever experience. And this is just the beginning. We have an eternity of joy, peace, and love ahead of us.
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