What is Life? But what is life—that elusive something we humans are chasing, seeking, and so frantically pursuing? Is it utopia, a never-never land of euphoric happiness? Is it what we Christians are seeking to have “more abundantly”? Intangible, indescribable yet we believe we will recognize it when we find it.
We seek life in health spas for the body beautiful, in doctor’s offices for vigorous health, in a regimented lifestyle for longevity. We look for it in ever-changing sports fads, in shorter work weeks, in hobbies to take the boredom out of our leisure time. We hoard money in banks to ensure a life of comfort. We invest in stocks and insurance for security at retirement, or in property to achieve equity. We search for life through education, equal rights, mind-expanding programs, and through the passive search for tranquility. We strive for it by moving up to the right neighborhood, being involved socially, getting to the top professionally, by being needed. We know we will reach when we are free from an addiction or a habit or a confinement. And we will clinch it all by marrying the love of our life and moving into our dream house. Then there will be life—lived “happily ever after’!
But somehow, no matter how many of these we find, there is always the haunting feeling that there must be more to life than this.
Well then, perhaps life after all is just the seeking of it—that life is found in the process of seeking it. Is it true that the pursuit of it, to which we are all constitutionally entitled, brings happiness? Or can we really find it?
Then, if we can find life, will we really find it through Jesus’ mind-jarring paradox of “gaining it through losing it”? I decided to find out.
A word of caution here: This principle has nothing to do with a martyr complex or suicidal tendencies. Jesus never leads us to commit suicide. Nor does this principle have to do with the masochistic tendency to seek gratification from pain, deprivation, or self-denial. It does not apply to those who enjoy losing, but to those plain, ordinary, everyday followers of Christ who are willing to lose their lives—for His sake.
Quote from the book Gaining Through Losing Evelyn: page 12
Then gradually, the answer seemed to come from God: “Empty yourself of all of you, Evelyn.”
Am I ready to empty myself of all of me?
I remember when I read this book many years ago, I honestly did not understand how I could gain anything by losing. The more I got into the book, the more I understood what it means “gaining through losing.” I don’t think anyone likes to lose, but when we understand how the God who created everything can show us how losing in our lives can turn out as a gain, or something that is actually good for us is totally amazing.
We are going on an incredible Journey with Evelyn as we open the pages of this book. We are living in days when many of us seem to be losing many things, like jobs, family, health, homes, etc. The good part is that whatever we are facing today, we are not alone. The God, who created me, has a plan for my life, and everything that I go through is part of the plan for my life.
I hope you will join me every Tuesday morning as we Journey together. Invite your friends along. God’s blessings to you today!
Dear God,
Please go before me as I begin this book, Gaining Through Losing. Love me, teach me, and encourage me along this Journey. In Jesus name, Amen.
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