My last Rolo

“It’s my last one, but you can have it.”  Remember that Rolo add?  Now my question: “Is it OK to keep the last Rolo for ourselves?”

One of the scriptures that played a huge part in helping me make my decision whether to do Global Challenge or not, was the one about the rich young ruler (Matt 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30).   
The Rich Man
18Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19”Why do you call me good?”  Jesus asked him.  “Only God is truly good.  20But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery.  You must not murder.  You must not steal.  You must not testify falsely.  Honour your father and mother.’”
21The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
22When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done.  Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come follow me.”
23But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
24When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard is it for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!  25In fact, 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!”
26Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”
27He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible for God.”
28Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”
29”Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,30will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”  Luke 18

I have sort of forgotten about this scripture until someone mentioned it the other day.  A strange feeling, no, an urge came upon me to read the scripture again.  It was as if God was saying, “There is more I want to show you.”
After reading the scripture again, I came to the conclusion that God doesn’t want just your good deeds, He wants you… all of you!
The very next morning while we were having devotions, Luke, shared with us that very same message and then asked the question that made the penny drop: “What are the things in your life that you are not willing to give to God?  What is standing in the way of you living a surrendered life of following God?”  By a surrendered life I am not saying you should sell your possessions and become a missionary somewhere in deepest, darkest Africa, I am simply asking you what is preventing you from hearing and doing God’s will for your life.  Is it the money, the security, the dreams you have, the comfort, the fear?

This made me think a bit.  What were those barriers in my life that prevented me from living all out for God, that made me hesitate when He asked me to do something?  Was it the fact that I miss South Africa and would never want to live elsewhere, was it that I would love to stay close to my family, was it the worry of not having money and having to live in faith?  I realized that it was all of the above and more. 
We are so selfish in our ways and always think of what we can get out of a situation or how I can benefit.  Imagine if this was the sort of attitude that Jesus went around with when he was roaming the hills of the Promised Land.  We would be doomed to an eternity of suffering.  Few tend to realize that He was also flesh and blood, just like us, with feelings and emotions and fears… just like us.  Would you give your life so that another sinner could live?

This brought me to the realization that there were things in my life that I was unwilling to give up.  After some prayer and serious thinking and wrestling with myself I made the commitment of giving it all.  God is number one and everything else takes a back seat.  This does not mean that my life will from now on be plain sailing, on the contraire it will most likely be more bumpy and full of challenges, but then again, who would want to live a boring monotonous life out of choice!

This might sound irresponsible, childish and outlandish to some, but the fact of the matter is this: My life in my hands does not make sense and does not fulfill me, but when God takes the reigns, it’s hair raising but totally what I was made for.  God had also put Psalm 37 on my heart recently and I was yet again amazed at His greatness and faithfulness. Verse 23 tells us that He directs the steps of the godly, but my favourite verse in Psalm 37 must be verse 4.  “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your hearts desires.”  The Lord knows what your passions and dreams are.  Do God’s will for your life and see how he blesses you and makes your dreams come true.

My question to you then: “What are you unwilling to give up?”  My advice, stop being trapped by the fear of the unknown, give all of yourself to God, give Him your last Rolo!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11