Some years ago, I was deep in meditation and God made a statement that has become one of the principles that has guided my life till today; God said “The fruits of tomorrow are in the seeds sown today”. The theme of this month’s program is perhaps something some are not comfortable with. Why? Because it’s about losing something. Before we go deep into this topic, I want to explain the meaning of principle. Principles have no respect for feelings or what you think. For e.g., you can pray throughout the night and violate God’s principle of giving and you will not be rich. You can fast and pray but if you violate God’s principle of obedience, you will still miss God. In the same way, the principle of losing is key in triumphing in the Kingdom of God.
In Mathew 16:21-28, Jesus begins to tell them about losing His life on the cross and Peter takes Him aside and says it will never happen. Peter’s reaction to what Jesus said is typical of human beings. The average ‘fallen’ human being is wired in such a way to fear loss of anything. The thought of losing scares us to the point that we end up losing everything at the end. In the current state of the world losing is inevitable, so it’s not a question of losing but what to lose and why you lost it. It is very easy to criticize Peter’s reaction; but do you remember when you lost that job or friend? How did you react? The human thirst to hold on unto things prevents them from achieving anything worthwhile.
When Peter rebuked Jesus, Jesus’ response was amazing and something worth paying attention to. Jesus said “get thee behind me Satan…” Contrast Jesus’ response to how we respond to the idea or thought of losing something. Jesus’ statement meant that it was the Will of God that we lose somethings for His sake. Which means that losing is one of God’s strategies for winning. Sometimes when we lose, we interpret it has defeat. Let’s go through the bible and look at some of the biblical characters that lost something.
Let us start with Joseph; He lost his freedom, warmth and care of his father, the love of his brothers and a ‘good’ opportunity to just sleep with his master’s wife and get somethings. Moses lost the palace, Daniel lost his comfort in the palace for the lion’s den, Stephen lost his life defending the faith, and Abraham lost his home for the wilderness. It is impossible to follow Jesus and not suffer lose. Any theology that focuses on only gaining from God and not losing anything for the sake of the kingdom is false will ultimately in frustrating and even bitterness for God. In order to walk in the Spirit, you have to lose the flesh, in order to live for God you have to die to the world.
It is important to point out that, there is nothing that you lose for the sake of the kingdom of God and not get back far better with peace, and joy. In Mathew 19: 26-29, Peter asked a question you have probably asked many times; Peter asked “we have forsaken all, and followed you, what shall we have therefore?” Jesus responded and said, anybody who lost anything for His sake will get a hundred-fold and will inherit everlasting life. This is amazing and such a good deal. Notice that Jesus was not angry at the question Peter asked. Why? Jesus knows that you have lost something for following Him. Jesus wants you to be happy, fulfilled and in dominion.
However, it is significant to point out that, it is not just about losing something but why you are losing it and what you are losing it for. Jesus Christ said in Mathew 16: 26, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”. You can lose everything in life but there is one thing you never lose; your soul. The battle is over your soul. The devil’s main agenda is not to make you poor, sick or broken, his main agenda is to control and own your soul. So, if he has to give you the whole world and get your soul, he will do it. Why? Because your soul gives him access to your body and your body gives him access to the earth to carry out his agenda. The goal of Jesus is to set your soul free. There are many who have sold their soul to the devil for money, fame and ungodly relationship. Selling your soul for money, fame, power and ungodly relationships is like buying the most expensive food and not being able to taste the food.
Jesus asked another question: What will a man give in exchange for his soul? It is question I want to leave you with. What is so important to you that you are willing to lose your soul for that thing? To lose your soul is to lose yourself. As stated earlier on, losing something for the sake of the Kingdom is not actually a loss, because whatever you lost will come back multiplied. In the Kingdom of God what you call loss is actually investment.
What are you ready to lose for Christ?
Thank you.
Ps. Fred Ofori Otsiwah.