"The Ultimate Paradox: Lose Your Life to Find It - Why Jesus Was the Original Counter-Cultural Rebel

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"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." - Matthew 16:25." - Matthew 16:25 (NIV)

Looking to save your life? According to Matthew 16:25, you may want to rethink that strategy. In fact, the verse states that whoever wants to save their life will actually end up losing it. Talk about a paradox!

But wait, it gets even better (or worse, depending on how you look at it). The verse goes on to say that whoever loses their life for the sake of Jesus will actually find it. Say what?!

At first glance, this paradox may seem like a recipe for disaster. After all, who in their right mind would willingly give up their life? But let's dive deeper.

Saving our own lives often means prioritizing our own interests, needs, and desires above all else. It's all about self-preservation. But what happens when we're so focused on ourselves that we lose sight of the bigger picture and the call to follow Jesus? We may end up losing the very thing we were trying to save - our lives, both literally and figuratively.

On the other hand, losing our lives for the sake of Jesus may sound crazy, but it's actually a call to something greater. It means surrendering our own desires and agendas to fully embrace and follow Jesus. It means putting our faith and trust in Him, even when it doesn't make sense. And ultimately, it means finding true life and purpose in Him.

So why is this paradox so important? It challenges us to examine our priorities and motivations. Are we living for ourselves or for Jesus? Are we willing to give up everything for the sake of His message and mission? It's a call to self-sacrifice and surrender, but the reward is nothing short of eternal life with Him.

An example of losing one's life for Christ and saving it can be seen in the story of the apostle Paul. Before he encountered Christ, Paul (formerly known as Saul) was a zealous persecutor of Christians, seeking to preserve the Jewish traditions and way of life he held so dear. However, when he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, he was completely transformed.

Paul surrendered his old way of life and his own desires, choosing to follow Christ and His will for his life. He faced persecution and imprisonment for preaching the Gospel, but he did not waver in his faith. In his letter to the Philippians, he writes, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

Through surrendering his own desires and life to Christ, Paul ultimately found true life and purpose. He became one of the most influential figures in the early Christian church, spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire and writing numerous letters that would become part of the New Testament.

One of the most amazing things about God is that He never asks us to be perfect before coming to Him. He meets us where we are and works on us over time. For me, I had to give up cussing and drinking. It was a struggle and not something that happened overnight, but I felt it was what God was asking of me.

And you know what? It wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

Surrendering those things to God allowed me to grow in my relationship with Him and become more like Christ. It's not about being perfect, but about being willing to let go of things that hold us back from His love and plan for our lives. What about you? Have you ever felt the nudge from God to let go of something?

Maybe it's a bad habit or a toxic relationship. It might not be easy, but when we trust God and surrender our desires to Him, He is faithful to work in us and guide us toward a better path. There are many things we may need to let go of for the sake of the Gospel. For some, it may be a certain career or job that conflicts with their values as a Christian. For others, it may be certain relationships or friendships that are holding them back spiritually. For some, it may be material possessions or a certain lifestyle that is hindering their relationship with God.

One example is the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. He was a wealthy tax collector who had likely gained his wealth through unethical means. When he encountered Jesus, he realized the error of his ways and declared that he would give half of his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he had cheated four times over. He let go of his love for money and his past actions in order to follow Jesus.

Another example is the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22. He asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor. The man went away sad, unwilling to let go of his wealth. Jesus used this encounter to teach that it is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God and that we must be willing to let go of everything for His sake.

In Mark 10:17-31, Jesus tells the disciples that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. He tells them that those who have left everything for His sake will receive eternal life and rewards in the age to come.

These examples show that following Jesus may require us to let go of things that we hold dear in this world. But in doing so, we gain something far greater - a deeper relationship with God and the promise of eternal life. Let's continue to grow in surrendering to Him, trusting that as we lose our lives for His sake, we will ultimately find true life in Him.

Amanda Allen

Write & Blogger

www.KingdomRevelations.com

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