Why Following Jesus Means Losing Everything

Why Following Jesus Means Losing Everything

I have pondered the reality of the Christian life of late with much Scripture as my mirror. I lifted the questions I had to The Book and asked; “Why does Following Jesus Mean I have to Lose Everything?” Just because someone says something does not make it true or verifiable. Let us look into the words of Jesus, who dares to say that:

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it” Luke 9:24.

I cannot help but wish that it were not so. Why do I have to give up all of the desires, dreams, goals, and plans for my life? Jesus’ words detail that if I chose to save this life, it (and all benefits) will be lost. How lost is lost? Lost in the sense that it cannot be retained and ever amounting to an eternal worth. We could arrive at the end of life and have lost our lives. That is pitiable.

Gaining my life then comes by losing it NOW. The casting away of desires, and coming before the altar of God is what He commands. Is this fair for Him to expect us to do that? Thankfully, yes! Should we not remember that it is God, who created us, knows us, loves us, and wants for us to have joy in Him? Joy then comes through the casting aside of our (human, finite, and weak) ideas of fortune for a life saved in the end.

Finally, Jeremiah (through God) says that our hearts are so wicked that we can’t know or trust in them. So even though we “think” have plans of bliss, they could actually be selfish. Given the opportunity, we will sin and seek to please ourselves. In conclusion, it is the words of Christ in The Book then that instruct us that if we want to really live, then we will really lose everything.