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Nov 08, 2024 06:00am

Called to Sacrifice

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There’s no guarantee you’ll make it back alive. But there’s no other way. Someone has to go and know the risk. There’s very little chance of survival.

“I’ll go.”

A brave man steps up. Pleas from those he’s with ensues.

“You can’t! No! It could mean certain death! Absolutely not!”

But he’s made up his mind. It has to be him. He argues his case.

“You must admit, I’m the best man for this job. It’s what I’ve been called to do. I knew from day one that I might lose my life doing this, and it didn’t stop me then. Today is no different. I’m going, and that’s the end of it.”

Tears and sobs fill the room as those he’s close to reach out for embrace, knowing they can’t change his mind.

He’s right. He’s the best man for this job. It’s what he was called to do.

In almost every “disaster” type movie, this is when we recognize the severity of the issue and the depth of the character. When those words are spoken, “I’ll do it,” a hero emerges. And we feel every emotion with them as they complete the mission to save the people, the nation, or the planet from destruction.

Acts 20:16-25
“Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.
19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.
20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
23 I only know that in every city, the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
25 Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.”

Paul. One of, if not THE, greatest missionaries of all time. He wanted to be in Jerusalem to celebrate the Pentecost, so he called the church elders of Ephesus to him. As he addressed them, he told them they would never see him again.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that suffering and imprisonment awaited him.

And what was Paul’s response? Did he run and hide? Did he seek survival somewhere else?

He accepted it with grace. How? Because he knew he was doing what God had called him to do.

“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Paul knew his purpose here on earth. Christ had saved him, and he owed his life to the Lord. His mission was to declare the truth of God’s love, man’s sin, and the redemption of mankind through Jesus Christ, the living God. Paul was going to declare this whether his surroundings and circumstances were good or bad. People needed to hear the truth, and God was worthy of their praise.

I think sometimes we forget that as followers of Christ, we’ve been given the same mission. To boldly proclaim the good news of God’s grace.

Am I doing that? Can I say that I’d give my life to spread the message of Jesus? Am I actively participating in the mission of Christ to go and make disciples?

That’s what Paul was doing. That’s what Jesus died for. That’s why we’ve been saved.

I’ll be honest: I love the life the Lord has given me. My family, my job, my home, all the things that bring happiness into my life. But I wouldn’t have any of it if it wasn’t for Jesus. This life, even with all its great pleasures, is short. When death comes, then what? What will matter in eternity? Sure, I may be in heaven because Jesus saved me, but did I share that with those I love? Did I offer that same salvation and relationship with Jesus to the world?

Let the praises of the Lord be on my lips today. May my mouth speak His glory and salvation, the offer of forgiveness of sins, and Jesus’ desperate love for you. This is my heart, that you may hear my words and know that Jesus offers you the same grace and love He has offered me. Surrender it all to the Lord.