- Colossians 3:3 (NIV)
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10, verse 39, the Lord Jesus makes a remarkable statement. Jesus said, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” At first, it sounds strange doesn’t it? But it’s really not strange at all. Jesus says that if we focus our lives on the desires of this world, others expectations, or our own selfish wants, we will surely miss out on the life we were born to live.
The plans God has for us are greater than anything we could ever hope for or even imagine. Think about it. The God who designed over 20,000 different species of beetles, has designed a unique, customized plan for your life! What an incredible thought! But, in order to find the life that will bring the ultimate satisfaction, we must surrender our lives to His Lordship and allow Him to guide our steps.
The first man to ever cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope was a French man named Jean Francois Gravelot, also known as “The Great Blondin.” In 1860, he not only crossed the Niagara Falls on a tightrope, he did it carrying his manager, Harry Colcord on his back. During the first half of the walk they struggled. When Blondin would lean one way, Colcord would lean the other, thus making them very unbalanced. It has been said that at one point while struggling to maintain his balance, Blondin said to Colcord, “You are no longer Harry Colcord! You are now Blondin!” He was encouraging Colcord to become one with him, to move as he moved or they would both perish in the raging river below them.
That is the invitation Christ gives to us. If we truly want to live the life we were born to live. If our desire is to be, and to accomplish, the great plans that God has for us, we must lose ourselves IN CHRIST, become ONE with Christ, Let CHRIST LIVE THROUGH US!
Then, and only then, will we live the life we were born to live! Losing self and gaining Christ is winning!
