A Fight to the Death

Today’s scripture:

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (Mark 8:35)

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)

Very recently I heard of a situation about this one person who we will call Becky. Becky has been faced with all kinds of health issues the past few years which have continually gotten worse and worse. Over the years her family has prayed for her to give her life to Jesus and to be healed. Now Becky is at the point that she is face with the very real probability of death and nobody being able to care for her until she dies and still she is so set in her ways she will not give up and let God in. Becky continues to fight to the death to have her way instead of letting God have His way.

Have you ever been so stubborn wanting your own way that you shove God out? God may have been trying to get your attention for a long time and the more you shove God push Him away, ignore Him or even wrestle against Him, the worse things get. God is a very patient God but He is also very very jealous.

As I was hearing about Becky and her situation, immediately I started to wonder and question God like I usually do when I hear about things like this. I would think things like “Is God even paying attention to this lost soul?” “Does He even care?” The answer is of course He cares and yes, not only is He paying attention to her needs, He is doing something about it.”

Think about it. In Becky’s situation, things started out kind of bad with her health. However, as time went on and prayers went up, God heard those prayers and He decided to do something about it. When God works, it usually does not come how we imagine it should come. God is trying to get her attention! He is at work….MIGHTLY!

I have been following Becky’s situation for a little while now. And, now things are worse than ever with her. Her stubbornness is stronger than ever, her health is weaker than ever, and her relationship with friends and family are at its most desperate moment. In Becky’s eyes it may be a fight to the death to have her own way but with God at work, it’s a fight to the death of one’s self (Mark 8:35). He has to bring us to the end of our own self where we have nothing left to fight with where we have to either die or give up and let God. I believe this happens a lot when people go into comas. They have nothing left to do but talk to God.

But God is so gracious and merciful that when we come to the point of giving up and letting God have us, we end up so filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. It’s almost like even when we lose, we still win! That is God’s heart and His character. This is what is meant by one of today’s scripture Mark 8:35.

My prayer for people who find themselves in the state of absolute despair is that they also see themselves as the thief on the cross. It is NEVER TOO LATE! That thief on the cross was being crucified along with Jesus. Moments before his death, that thief admitted his sins and asked for forgiveness and so quickly Jesus responded with such mercy “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” It is never too late!!!

Reflection:

Coming to the end of one’s self is not the end at all. It’s a new beginning (2 Corinthians 5:17)! The only death, the only end, the only destruction when you give up on yourself and let God is the death of self. And that is a very good thing! Until then, Just watch how God will continually try to get your attention with humility (Matthew 23:12)

Challenge:

Today, pray for those who you see that are going through some very difficult times. God may be using those trials to get their attention. Next time you go through some tough times, remember that God is paying attention and He is doing something about it. Just humble yourself by giving up and just let God have His way with you.

-Doug McGowan