[paradox]

One of the most terrible hindrances we have in our lives is the lie that this life is good and we must enjoy it while we can. Most certainly there are parts of this life that are good; and I am in no way suggesting that we don't enjoy the gifts and blessings God has given us despite our own depravity, but we must not ever let ourselves believe that this life is as good as it gets. If it is, then Jesus died for nothing.

It sounds so awful to think that Christ asks us to "surrender all" and to "take up your cross daily" and to be "crucified with Christ." Doesn't that mean that I can't just enjoy life as it comes? Doesn't that mean I have to DENY myself the right to myself? What's that all about? That sounds like no fun.

One of the greatest paradoxes of all time is that to live your life, you must lose it (Matthew 10:39, 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24, 17:33; John 12:25). Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." When a person's life is grasped by the gospel, this paradox no longer seems ridiculous; it becomes breathtakingly beautiful.

The gospel is simple. It's the story of redemption of a worn-down, beaten up, desperately tired, absolutely rotten people. An undeserving people. A sinful people. A totally lost people. A people like you and me. A people who needed someone to save them because they could not ever save themselves. The penalty for all they had done was eternal damnation and death because God, who created them, was Holy and could not be near sin. But the gospel points to a loving, just God who demanded that sin be paid for; and who paid for it himself. God showed this rotten people grace by sending Jesus to pay the penalty for their own sins. The grace of God is so amazing because God paid the price for crimes He did not and cannot commit! Jesus' death is like an innocent man taking the death penalty for a guilty man. But it is even greater than that because Jesus is God- and His death (and resurrection)covered the sins of the entire human race.

The gospel points to the love of God for a people who do not deserve that love. When that is understood- when a person begins to take hold of the depth of God's love- then a whole new understanding of Jesus' command to lose your life begins to transpire. Suddenly everything clicks and we understand that our life is not our own…and it certainly isn't at its best right now.

Don't ever fall into the danger of living a life of mediocrity. Don't allow yourself to lose the wonder of the Gospel. This world isn't the best there ever will be. Learn the beauty of surrendering yourself to God. Choose each day to crucify yourself (your dreams, hopes, and desires) and let the Holy Spirit live through you and then watch as your life becomes richer, deeper, and more fulfilling. You'll soon find that this paradox is the most wonderful thing you've ever heard of in your life.