Read Mark 8:35-38
Whose Kingdom Are You Willing To Die For? Yours or God’s?
Jesus just finished telling the multitude that if we want to pursue a life with Jesus that we must DENY SELF, TAKE UP OUR CROSS, and FOLLOW JESUS (become one with him).
Then Jesus adds, some days following him will be difficult. You may find yourself in a position where your faith in Jesus may result unto death. Jesus says, those who wish to save their life by denouncing their faith, will end up losing their life in hell. But those who are willing to die for their faith, will actually live for eternity in heaven.
Jesus goes on to say, what does it profit a person if they gain the whole world, but lose their soul in hell? What does it profit a person to put all their energy in building their own kingdom only to die and be lost and separated from God and his kingdom in Heaven for eternity? Jesus is asking us to put our energy in him. Life on Earth is not about us, but all about Jesus and building his kingdom. If we are ashamed to live for Jesus on Earth, then he’ll be ashamed of us on Judgment Day before God and His holy angels. If we deny him now on Earth, he’ll deny us in heaven.
So what on earth is there that you are willing to give up in exchange for your soul? What on earth is SO APPEALING that we are willing to give up our soul TO THE DEVIL so we can enjoy earthly things while losing our soul from God to hell.
Think of the things you chase after and put so much energy and value in on Earth. Think of things on earth we hunger for while we allow our hunger for God to dissipate. We feed our fleshly desires over and over again and are oblivious to how our soul is starving to death.
Dear God, my life on Earth is for a very short time. Help me put all my energy in pursuing you, and all my energy in touching lives for your kingdom and not my kingdom. Help me never be ashamed of you but to follow you even unto death if that challenge is before me.
