Which Style?

 "Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead." Galatians 6:14

William Borden was a young man and heir to a great fortune. He forsook it to undertake to study to become a missionary to the Muslim population of India. At the age of 25, he arrived at his destination, and lived with a Muslim family in order to better learn their language. While there, he contracted meningitis, and shortly after, died at the age of 25. There is a story that after his death, his mother found written in His Bible, "No Reserves....No Retreats....No Regrets." Borden was believed to have written the first upon his decision to forsake his inheritance and position in the family business. He wrote the second after his father warned him that to continue on his path would mean he would never have a place in that business. The last was written upon his contracting the disease, and knowing it would take his life. Some consider this story a legend, but whether or not it is fully true, there can be no doubt that these three declarations fully described the life of William Borden. He followed Christ with no reserves, no retreats, and no regrets. Do we? Can we?

Paul's words in Galatians 6:14 are powerful and convicting. So much so that we tend to think that they can only be spoken by someone like Paul, that they are what God would expect him to say. Somehow, we don't really believe that He expects us to have the same attitude. That He expects us to live so deeply in Him, with such a cross-style life, that the world's interest in us, it's claim upon us, is broken, and our interests, claims upon it, are broken as well. Such a life, such a choice, can only be made by those who have been, as Paul was, "crucified with Christ."

I once heard evangelist Stephen Manley preach a sermon centered upon the only two styles of life available to a follower of Christ; the cross style life, and the self style one. Cross style, self style. I remember the effect of that message upon all who heard it, because the truth of it all was so clear. Our lives are either centered upon ourselves, or upon the cross. It is impossible to live in between the two. It is impossible to be "half crucified," though for sure, most of us seem to think it isn't, and that we can. We're willing to die out to some things, the less important things, but not those that we keep as treasure in our hearts. They maintain their interest in us, and our interest in them. Cross style, self style. Which are we really living today?

All of us, meaning you and me, know what Paul is speaking of here. We know what He calls us to. Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. Somehow, a lot of the current preaching seems to tell us that because He went to the cross, we don't have to. We get all the benefits of the cross and none of it's cost. That would indicate why so much of the western church is so weak and flabby. Our faith costs us nothing. David said that he wouldn't offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing. Too many of us do so every day of our lives.

Cross style, self style; which is yours? Which is mine? Ultimately, ours will be one or the other. Which will you choose? One...or the other? No Reserves....No Retreats....No Regrets. That may not be written in our Bible, but is it written on our heart?

Blessings,

Pastor O