It's Christ or Nothing
“I believe in God and Christ’s gospel so much that I’m willing to give my whole life to his cause. Nothing in this world is more important to me than my treasure in heaven…I desire nothing more than I desire all of God.” - Craig Groeschel. It’s Christ or Nothing.Did that quote send a shiver down your spine like it did mine? Those are some serious statements from a guy that is literally living as if it is Christ or nothing. Is that how you would describe your life? A life worthy of sacrificing for our one and only savior?Craig goes on to describe a vision he received from God in his book, “the Christian atheist.” In this vision were three lines and without even asking he instinctively knew what they stood for. They were the three lines of Christianity;Line 1: I believe in God and the Gospel of Christ enough to benefit from it. Sadly, I believe most Christians live within this line. They believe in God but only when it is convenient for them. “If you give me this job Lord I will start going to church and tithing.” “If you give us a child Lord we will devote our whole family’s life to you.” Have you had any of those thoughts/prayers cross your mind? I have, and in retrospect it seems silly to bargain with God. He parted the Red Sea for crying out loud!! If he wanted something from me or taken from me he could do it without even breaking a sweat.Do you find yourself all too often trying to bargain with God? Or asking, “What’s in it for me” when he prompts you to do or not do something?Line 2: I believe in God and Christ’s gospel enough to contribute comfortably. People that past the first line and make it to the second are able to look past themselves. They are willing to give back and do things for others as long as it doesn’t make them too uncomfortable or stretch them too far. “I’d love to volunteer at the shelter but my team finally made it into the playoffs and I have to watch them!” “My girlfriends and I have been planning a shopping trip for months so I can’t make the women’s retreat I feel lead to go to.” It’s humbling to admit that this has been me a time or two. What opportunities did I miss to better know God and his fellow sons and daughters?Line 3: I believe in God and Christ’s gospel enough to give my life to it. I personally believe that the big step to making it past line 2 and line 3 is to start walking the walk. Not only are you sharing the love of Christ, memorizing scripture but you are living it out in the truest sense of the word. Yeah you slip from time to time but you are on fire for the Lord. Nothing can stop you from putting on your godly armor and going to spiritual battle day in and day out. You’re whole being lives for it. You wake up with a renewed sense of purpose, passion, energy, and urgency. Your life’s motto truly is “Christ or Nothing.”
Matthew 16:25-26 - If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (NLT)
