Jesus demands the very thing that we live for. And if we don’t give it, we will be eternally lost.

Jesus demands a rich man to sell all his possessions and follow Him if he wants to be saved. (Matt. 19:16)

Jesus demands a lawyer to go against the law and love a gentile if he wants to be saved. (Luke 10:25)

Jesus demands an old man to be born again if he wants to be saved. (John 3:1)

Jesus demands a family man to leave his family behind if he wants to be saved (Luke 14:26)

What would Jesus ask of us today? It would depend on what you live for, what gives you your identity.

Jesus might demand a doctor to give up her career and be a stay-at-home mom.

Jesus might demand a financial adviser to cash in his investments and become a missionary.

Jesus might demand an American to give up his citizenship to go to Africa.

Jesus might demand a young adult to give up marrying and stay single.

Jesus might demand a pastor to give up his ministry to be a welder.

Whatever it is that we are drawing our identity from, that which we think is most important to us, Jesus would demand.

These are impossible demands! These are demands we CANNOT meet! Unless…. unless the Spirit of God enables us. After Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man, to the astonished disciples who asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26)

Salvation is only for those whose eyes Jesus opened so that He becomes more important than anything else. Only those whose hearts have been changed by Jesus to want Him more than anything else have truly be saved…

Even as I’m writing this, I’m wondering first of all, if I am saved. Where do I draw my identity from? And do I love Jesus more than that? And then I’m wondering what you would think about this. Whether you would be encouraged or discouraged. And what to do with an information like this that we know is biblical but is so hard to accept? There really is nothing to do. It’s not like you can make yourself love Jesus more than what you currently love. So, what do you do?

You can pray. And one way God shows grace to you is by taking away the very thing that you value the most. And if He does, it’s by His grace and not His curse. He wants eternal life for you. And if it means that you lose an earthly valuable thing, then so be it.

I need this truth again…”He who did not spare His own Son but gave him up for us all, how will He not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32. 

PH