What would you risk your life for?
Acts 15:26 speaks of “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul asks the question in 1 Cor. 15:30, “Why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?” In Romans 8 he quotes Psalms 44 and applies it to Christians: “For your sake we face death all day long!”
There are a lot of things people will risk their lives for. In fact, for some people there is a certain thrill that comes with danger. They are hooked on the rush they get from the experience of being in the path of danger and overcoming. Extremes attract and engage the risk takers. I recently saw a picture of a Conquistador standing with his red cape as a bull charges through and the caption underneath says in bold letters: Courage! I thought, “Yeah, right.”
Or, there is a man vertically suspended on the side of a 2000 foot straight up escarpment precipice clinging to the tiny intrusions and extrusions with his fingers as he climbs. The scene around him is beautiful, and the guy taking the picture is probably as impressed as I am looking at it. The caption says: Risk it all! And some inspirational sub-message follows.
Then, there is the TV advertisement for Mellow Yellow where the guy on his stunt bike rides off the edge of the Grand Canyon to catch the can and slurp the drink. Thankfully, they don’t show his landing.
On an honorable scale, think of the soldier in Iraq standing outside a voting area as an unwelcome foreigner protecting the human rights of those who come to vote. This soldier is risking his life for a cause we all appreciate.
Finally, let us remember the missionary who works in harms way to bring the saving message of Jesus Christ into the lives of the lost. What higher cause can a person live for?
There are lots of things people will risk their lives for, but fewer things that people will purposefully give their lives for. What would you, knowingly, give up your life for? Most of the worldly risks that attract us are exciting and attractive because those that experienced them lived to tell about it. Yet, think about it. Isn’t that part of the point of being a Christian? Since the cross of Christ and the empty tomb, we who follow Jesus realize that when we give up our lives for Jesus, we still live to tell about it! Forever!
Jesus words are, “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life!” So where is the risk? Well, brothers and sisters the greatest risk is that of NOT giving our lives for Jesus! It is the danger of having lived this life for ourselves and dying in our sins. There is no heroism in going to hell. No one knows this danger as much as God does and he has performed the ultimate work and sacrifice to see that we have the way home. God offers to us this way. He doesn’t force it upon us. God extends his hand of grace. He is not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance. God’s love is enormously demonstrated by Jesus’ death for us on that cross. Nothing this world offers comes close. But, listen to me now… God’s holy character will not be mocked by our unholy attitudes and actions. The Christian life is not a game or part time pursuit.
Burger King used to advertise, “Have it your way at Burger King,” meaning you can hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us, all we ask is that you let us serve it your way. Some want a Burger King faith. Have it my way. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Did Jesus have it his way? Did any other faithful servant of God have it his way?
A cause worthy of the cost of our redemption demands the highest commitment we can muster, and deserves far more than we can ever repay.
Remember STP oil treatment? Those of us who lived before fuel injection engines might appreciate this illustration. STP oil or gas treatment was an additive that made your car run better. You add the oil treatment to your oil or the gas treatment to your gas and supposedly, you would get better mileage and more power from your engine. Some see Christianity as an additive to life to make things run a little (or a lot) better. We all could use a bit more power to face challenges that come up. But that view of the call of Christ is totally foreign to scripture. Jesus Christ is not an additive to life to make it better or give us more power. Jesus Christ is THE alternative to death. He doesn’t share his glory with another. It is all or none. You are in or out. We are saved or lost. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes unto the Father but by me.” Jesus said, “Whoever would keep his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will keep it to eternal life.” Jesus followers understood. In the face of possible punishment by death they said, “There is no other name given among men by which we must be saved.”
What does it take? What can be done or said so that even we in the church will embrace the cause of Christ so fully that we realize the truth... that the real risk in life is that of missing the way of eternal life in Christ! What does it take for us to grasp the reality of how worthless is this world in light of the worthiness of Jesus Christ? A song I heard says it well, “Feelings for the moment, they come and then they’re gone, lines show signs of frailty to the face that once was strong. Diamonds don’t shine bright enough so satisfy your soul, and foolish are the ones who seek treasures wrapped in gold. Why do we waste one day, in search of things that slip away, when all that really matters is you, Lord, all that really matters is you! It’s so easy to live for unimportant things, to lose sight of heaven as we chase our man made dreams. Lord free us to focus on what life really means, and teach us to look past unimportant things.”
Consider the life of Paul as we have studied it in Acts. When Paul was free, he preached Christ. When he was in prison, he preached Christ. When he wrote to churches, he preached Christ. When he wrote to individuals, he preached Christ. When he stood on trail, he preached Christ. When he defended himself, he preached Christ. As he stood before Felix and the Jewish accusers, he preached Christ. As he met with Felix in private, he discussed faith in Christ. When he was about to leave this world he wrote a letter to Timothy and his greatest charge was this: 2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires;
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
What will you risk your life for? What will you give your life for? Don’t think you can live without taking risks. Don’t think that there is a safe place and way to live where life is secure and there are no trials or risks to take. But if you really want true security, if you want to know love, joy, peace, and a hope that will not fail or dim. Jesus is the answer. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.” Do you believe Jesus?
The greatest risk you can take is walking out of here unprepared to meet Jesus Christ in the judgment. The same loving Savior who came and died for our sins is coming again, this time with glory and welcome to those who gave up their lives for him here, and condemnation and judgment on all who walk the broad path to destruction. The Bible says: 2 Thess 1: 5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed-- for our testimony to you was believed.
11 To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power;
12 in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Cor. 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men…
