If He Only Saved You, Christ Was Willing…

Most of us, I am sure, can remember a sermon or a time when our heart was touched with the thought that if Jesus’ death on the Cross had only saved us, He would have been willing to endure it all: rejection, scorn, abuse, wounds, pain, suffering, abandonment, and death. How our hearts return tender love and gratitude when we feel ourselves the object of His singular attention and sacrifice.

But what of our own lives? When we consider our own efforts and what we are endeavoring to accomplish, how willing are we to impact only one life? As a teacher would we say our career was worth our time and energy if only one child was truly educated by us? As a doctor could we relish knowing one patient was restored to health among countless fruitless attempts? Something in my own ambition rankles at such a thought. And yet there are countless stories of people whose lives have had no large or notable impact. What of those who care for a parent with Alzheimer’s? Unremembered and perhaps unacknowledged yet sharing the love of Christ in works tinged by grief as they watch the one they love deteriorate before them. They carry on unable to do more because the burden of caring for this one is so great.

I remember a sermon illustration that touches this issue, though I have forgotten the exact facts of the story. There was once a man called to the mission field. Most certain of his commission, he went north to live among the lumberjacks hoping to see many brought to life in Christ. His missionary efforts over a lifetime resulted in two conversions. The story continues describing how these two had a tremendous impact for the Kingdom: the one opening a Christian university the other advancing missions far and wide, both impacting thousands.

Such a resolution to the story, in one sense, diminishes its power. It is as if we were to say “If Jesus’ death on the Cross had only saved the Apostle Paul, He would have been willing to endure it all joyfully.” This happily-ever-after ending that affirms that one day we will have a larger impact, held in hope even if never seen in our lifetime, keeps us from deeply surrendering to the possibility that this may not be the story God has written for our lives. Our belief that the tallying up of tangible results is what Jesus meant when He said we would produce a crop 30, 60, or 100 fold, may blind us to the sacrifice that is at hand. We may be asked to lay down our ambition, our pride and season this sacrifice with the salt of our disappointed tears. Can we bear, for the love of God, to only impact one?

#sacrifice #faithfulness #endurance #hiddenlife #love