Finn from glee died!  Crazy right?  He was famous talented, super young and crazy adorable.  He wan’t supposed to die?

I felt the same with Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, and every other big name that has died in recent years.

In the mist of such news I can’t help but be reminded EVERYONE dies.  We don’t like to think about it unless we have to, but it is true!  Presidents, Kings, celebrities, even doctors and surgeons.  We all die.  Encouraging huh?

Don’t worry I have a point.

Jesus said “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:25

Ok thanks Jesus….now what does that mean?

The first part asks, “who wants to save their life?”

I think that is pretty much everyone.  That is why we workout, take vitamins, go to the doctor, and wear seat belts.

So to ALL of us he says, you “will lose it.”  Which means we ALL die.  All of us.  No matter how many vitamins we take, no matter how safe we drive, even if we are a celebrity…we will all “loose our life.”

In fact the only person to rise from the dead or bring others back to life is the one giving us this advice…I think we should listen…just sayin.

“But” (meaning there is good news)

BUT, whoever loses their life for me will find it. 

Losing our life for Jesus means losing our agenda, our to do lists, our status, pride, goals, aspirations, and what most of us would define as “our LIFE.”

Losing OUR plans for HIS.  Throwing our hands up and saying “have your way with me Jesus”  That is TRUE LIFE.

We find LIFE by putting our self aside “dying to our agenda” and living for something bigger than ourselves. 

Why don’t we do this?  Because we don’t know what Jesus has planned and we are far too afraid of leaving our comforts.

Our creator, our maker, KNOWS us.  He knows we want to live forever. That is the way we were made.  We desire life ETERNALY.  But we get so confused thinking that the here and now is what is most important.  So many people get to the end of their life and realize they were chasing the wrong things.

I don’t want to realize too late.

Father may your agenda always trump mine. When you say, “jump” may my only question be “how high?”

I KNOW your agenda is better than mine.  May I open the clinched fist that I have on this life and lay it all at your feet.

I fear a life without you much more than a life lived for you.