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I used to try to convince everyone, at every opportunity, to surrender their lives to the Lord. You know, the "Jesus loves you and salvation is his gift," spiel.
True as that is, I've come to realize that really there IS a cost in following Him, people know that, and that is something that most people are simply not willing to incur.
For years, the Gospel story of the rich man has been something I just could not understand. Not the part where the rich man turns around and walks away after hearing Jesus tell him to sell what he has and come follow him. Surely one can understand the rich man's conclusion that he just couldn't do that.
No, that's not the part that has bothered me all these years. What has troubled me is the fact that Jesus didn't argue with him. He didn't try to clarify the point that you never lose with God. He didn't try to persuade him, he just let him go.
For those of us who HAVE been "born again," in our deep appreciation we try every means, every argument, hoping to convince others of the incomparable worth of walking with the Lord, not just in the life to come, but ESPECIALLY in this lifetime. The joy we experience is beyond the telling, and the peace really does "surpass understanding." Each of us have many stories because the Lord is a LIVING God who takes on a very active and obvious involvement in our lives, and the stories and experiences we accumulate are just so precious to us.
Having walked with the Lord for 32 years now, if anyone asked if I'd do it over again - my answer might surprise you. I'd have to tell you that the valleys have at times been very deep and the traumas have left scars. But He forewarned about the cost, so it does not come as a surprise. There is an enemy who does all in his power to "steal, to kill, and to destroy." But, that Scripture continues, Jesus has come "to give you life, and that more abundantly." The believer doesn't experience the first without the second. The person whose life is surrendered to the Lord is never abandoned to walk through the trials of life alone. Most people have seen the "Footprints" picture, and that picture speaks volumes, so true it is.
But it's not all, or even mostly, pain. There are times of transcending joy, there are times when the believer will experience the manifest presence of the Lord which one must experience to understand for words truly are inadequate to describe it. Also, there's the promise He made that ALL things will work together for the good of the one following him. That one takes time. During a trial or a heartache, it seems unfathomable to us that "even this" could possibly be worked for my good. It's only in retrospect that we see what God did with it. He uses these things to change us, to mature us, and the promise is sure for it is God himself who promised it. Many people stumble at the story of Job and fear that something like that could happen to them. Well first of all, something like that could happen whether you walk with the Lord or not. But don't forget the point that for the believer, for Job, all was doubly restored to him after he weathered the trial.
After 32 years now of walking intimately with Him, when I look back, ALL I can do is express my heart-felt, soul-felt, deep-down-to-the core-felt thanksgiving that in spite of myself He called me and received me. Yes, YES I'd do it all over again! God made us with a need for him that only He can satisfy. It oftentimes takes many years before we come to the end of ourselves and realize that.
I think I understand now why He let that rich young man go. That young man was far from coming to the end of his trust in what he could accomplish by himself -for himself. It's near impossible to bring such a person to the point of surrender, which is where the "born again" experience must start. Perhaps it would be many more years before that rich man would come to the realization of the emptiness of riches. The point must be added here that one's "riches" might be something in one's life other than money. Anything we hold back from God amounts to our "riches." For some, understanding the futility of clinging to their "riches" never comes and they go into a Christ-less eternity. Jesus said "many go that way."
But for those to whom it is given to perceive the worth of entrusting one's soul into the hands of Him who made it, with the passing of time comes the growing appreciation of the total trustworthiness of Him who would go so far as to even shed his blood and give his life for us.
The believer doesn't have to wait till the end of this life to understand that, either. From the moment one is "born again," the plan of God for that one's life is launched and that person starts an adventure he or she could never have fathomed. "I will never leave your or forsake you," he told his followers, and down through the ages every believer has experienced the absolute trustworthiness of those words.
As for me, I lived 27 years without him, so I've experienced it both ways and am qualified therefore, to witness to the validity of all I've said here. It's been a story that movies could be made of. He has become "the lover of my soul," and though I had nary an idea what that meant 32 years ago, I have learned the worth, the value, the adventure of it all, but nothing supersedes learning the love that He stands ready to give, the love that creates the quality of the life I now live as I walk closely with him daily. Every person who has been born again for some time surely would say the same, for they just love telling it to whomever cares to listen.
Unfortunately most won't, though, and we have to be willing to let them go. It doesn't mean they will never come to him, but in the here and now it is futile to strive with them if they've refused, for striving will only cause them to turn away more firmly.
So what does that mean in the light of our calling to "preach the Gospel to all creation?" It means we speak whenever the Lord opens the opportunity. And it means we continue to pray for the others. Pray, yes. Absolutely! But cease the argument.
He let the young man turn around and walk away. There was no less love in his heart for that man. But he had to let him go.
References:
He let him go
"Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.
Mark 10:21-22
Born again
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
John 3:3-5
Life more abundantly
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10
There will be troubles
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
ALL is worked together for the believer's good
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
The peace that surpasses understanding
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
The many and the few
...wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 17:13-14
He will never leave you
Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.'' So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Hebrews 13:5-6
Our commission
Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
Matthew 10:27
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15
