ALL or Nothing
August 18, 2009 by Edwin Smith
Filed under Guest Blogs
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if every person on the planet became focused on the single, most important pursuit in life – which is a relationship with the Divine?
This relationship is the very thing for which mankind was created and for which Jesus commanded us to search in Matthew 6:33. He said, “But seek first the kingdom (fellowship of and submission to) of God and His righteousness (completion and wholeness by faith), and all these other things (possessions, self-worth, positive relationship with others) shall (must) be added (included in due time) unto you.”
Our problem as human beings is that most of us never become/remain THAT focused on finding and maintaining our primary relationship with our Creator. Instead, the majority of us spend almost an entire lifetime searching endlessly (and futily) for satisfaction apart from Him. Even the most devout human beings tend to become distracted from time to time, allowing temporal, tangible trinkets to successfully tempt and divert us away from eternal, intangible truths which are valuable and beneficial both now and forever.
Such distractions are what life is made all about (so it seems). Yet things are seldom what they seem. The reality is that until we become and stay focused on the “straight and narrow” way that leads to this higher consciousness, we will travel a “broad way” that leads – figuratively and literally – to our own destruction (which, in my opinion, is any way that results in unfulfilled potential and regret).
Jesus both taught and demonstrated what a lifelong, focused, intimate and purposeful relationship with God can be. He also said such a relationship only comes by a complete, full surrender of one’s self and own agenda. At first, such demands may seem unreasonable and too costly, but (again) things are seldom what they appear to be. The reality is that it IS worth giving up EVERYTHING to pursue and obtain this most wonderful, fulfilling relationship.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Forgetting those things which are behind me, and seeking those things which are before me, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God which is in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:15-16).
It’s ALL for Him, or it’s all for NOTHING. With God, it’s NEVER for NOTHING.
