“Sacrifice” – At What Point Does It Matter? (Part 1)

Every now and then I watch a movie that stirs my soul in ways that causes me to reflect on the whole concept of sacrifice and what it means. I was watching “Saving Private Ryan” the other day and as I watched the older man playing Ryan, now old and walking slowly, it caused my emotions to swell because I remember his concern in the movie of whether he had lived a good life and was a good man. The captain in the end of the movie, as he was dying, grabbed Private Ryan and said “Make Your Life Count” because a whole squad of men had died to save just one man.  Some people don’t like war movies but this one spells out the great cost of victory.

When you’re young and you have more years in front of you than behind you it’s easy to waste your life on things that are of little to no value and not be bothered by it. When you are older it’s easy to have more regrets than anything because you realized you squandered the gift of time. Once time is spent you can’t get it back.

As I’ve moved into the later portion of my life, I periodically reflect on how I spent my “life” time. I can honestly say my regrets are few because early in my life I was confronted with my selfishness and self centeredness. I was challenged to live for something greater than myself and make my time on this planet count. That time period of self reflection in my life was not pleasant. In fact, it was down right hell and felt like a civil war was happening in my soul.  I wanted to stay in charge of my life and I was afraid of yielding control to God. Yes, I had been told about Jesus’ love and compassion but I was also confronted with what my sinful life looked like to God. How I wasn’t just a poor sinner, but I was a “Rebel with a Cause” to coin a phrase. The cause was my greed and selfishness against the backdrop of a loving creator who one day would have to judge my rebellion.

The interesting thing is I wasn’t afraid of Hell.  When I would hear sermons on Hell I was almost numb to the idea.  It brought no motivation to pursue God or even surrender. What finally compelled me to surrender was God’s offer of mercy and forgiveness as defined in the life of Jesus and the sacrifice he made on the cross. That Jesus would suffer and die for me, even though I was such rebellious and hateful person, blew my mind and rearranged my soul.

Romans 5:6-10 

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  [8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. [10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 

You see, I knew I was an enemy of God. Up until I gave my heart completely to the Lord I hated God. I thought all my pain and brokenness was his fault. Satan had so captivated my heart into believing God was the problem that I hated God and anyone else that had potential to harm me. But when I was exposed to the real God, not the story book one that makes him out to be this long haired flower child but the real God who became a man to demonstrate how much He loved me, I was ruined. I lost all the fight in my soul and surrendered to Him and His will for the rest of my life.  I knew the cost and had calculated it long and hard. I had discovered the calling of Christ and His mission for my life was now mine. I became a disciple of Jesus.

Isaiah 61:1-3    CHRIST CALLING & MISSION                                                                                                        

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.

Since coming to Christ and surrendering my life, I can better relate to the apostle Paul in how twisted his heart was before becoming a believer. He was so full of hate that he couldn’t recognize love when it was staring him right in his face. When the disciple Stephen was being accused of betraying his Jewish faith and people started stoning him in Acts 6,  Stephen loved people like Paul even in their hatred. There were people in my life that loved me even though I was so full of myself and full of hate. They had an impact on my life even though I didn’t realize it. Stephen was used by God to have an impact on Paul’s hard heart along with all the other true believers that Paul hurt or put in prison.  This is what convinced Paul when he finally surrendered.

Acts 9:3-6       The Words That Changed Everything                                                                                                                                                                         

As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; [4] and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” [5] And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, [6] but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 

What Jesus said to Paul is often overlooked.  Paul is told that he is persecuting Jesus as he is persecuting Christians.  Believers are those transformed and sacrificing their own safety for the sake of witnessing to the lost and dying world that Paul is a part of. The evidence of true conversion is the sacrifice you live for.

Let me close this first article on sacrifice with this simple idea. Jesus became a man to show us the Father’s love. The sacrifice he made in becoming man and releasing his powers as God as spelled out in Philippians 2 is enormous. Paul, in becoming a believer, sacrificed everything to become the greatest example of what it means to follow Christ. Do you think we have any less calling in becoming Christians and Children of God?

Questions:

1) Did you see yourself as a person in rebellion before coming to Christ? If not, are you still in rebellion?

2) Have you renounced leading your own life and given control of your future to God? If not, why not?

May God remove the blinders on Christian lives because if there is no redemption, there is no surrender.

Look for part 2 on the subject of “SACRIFICE” on Thursday.

Pastor Dale