The Whole of You

An article by Jason    6 Comments

This quote rings especially true for me lately.

Despite not having posted in awhile, it’s certainly not because my faith has dimmed. It’s actually quite the opposite. Since my last post, I’ve finished reading and studying the book of Matthew, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Ecclesiastes (Solomon’s words blew me away!). Beyond that, I finished reading C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity,” which was incredible, Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love“, which really challenged me, and have listened to a number of intense sermons by David Platt – “What the Gospel Demands - Radical Series“.

Through all of this, God has begun breaking open my heart, prodding me to learn more, love more, and serve more. My family and I have started delivering Meals on Wheels to the elderly. We’ve spent time introducing Jesus to young children, by filling in at Buckhead Upstreet. We’ve served children through the SafeHouse Outreach program, which is changing lives of the homeless in urban Atlanta.

As you can probably tell, the C.S. Lewis quote really sums me up right now. In giving all my mind and heart to God, the Holy Spirit has taken over. In a sense, His Spirit has really taken the “whole” of me.

It’s a pretty incredible feeling.

Sometimes I feel as if I’m not even in control anymore…which is a good thing! Being closer to God gives me peace. I am full of joy at just being alive in Him (rejoice in the Lord always, rejoice!).

What’s crazy, is that I have this overwhelming desire to give myself wholeheartedly to Him, in order to serve His will and His kingdom. At times I am shocked by this desire. I mean, I didn’t manufacture it. Yet nothing else really matters to me. As King Solomon said,

² “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”

and he’s right, without God in my life, everything is meaningless. The problem is, for many (including me, 8 months ago) there’s a big difference between letting God “in” – and letting him have it “all!”

I can only speak from  my own experience…but sure, I was happy when I finally let God “in”. When I asked Jesus into my life, everything changed.

But through some trials, spending deep time in His Word, and many heartfelt prayers on my knees, I realized God was equipping me for MORE than just that initial step. In fact, Scripture demands that Christians turn their lives over to Him. For me it’s like taking a big jump – a flying, leaping, joyful jump off a cliff.

Halfway into this flying leap, my heart is bursting out of my chest. And as I give God MORE, I actually begin thanking Him not just for the good things he gives me, but for the bad things, too! I understand (as much as I can at least) that everything, yes everything, is a gift from Him. I can’t take the good and say “thanks,” then turn around, see the bad, and ask “why?”. It doesn’t work like that. In my mind, it’s all or nothing. I don’t do half-heartedness, and I’m pretty sure God doesn’t, either. He gave His Son for us, and that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Jesus doesn’t want to be in our lives, just part of the time. He wants to be in our lives at all times. He wants our life to be HIS! Pretty big difference there.

I feel sad to think about those who compartmentalize God in their lives. I’ve been there, and it’s not nearly as enjoyable as giving Him everything. To me it’s like when Jesus said -

^26″If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple..” (Luke 14:26).

The way I understand it is, he’s not telling us to hate them, he’s saying that your love for your Heavenly Father should be so BIG that it makes our Earthly love look like hate in comparison.

When tears come into my eyes as I kneel down and pray, I feel God’s presence with me. My wife Samantha just taught me about Coram Deo. It means “in the presence of God,” a phrase from Christian theology which summarizes the idea of Christians living in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God. I believe that’s the best way we can live our lives.

I want to glorify God. I desire to serve Him. I don’t do it out of guilt or law, I do it because I want Him to use me any way he wants to.

For me personally, the baby step was good, but jumping off a cliff is better. Giving God everything, including undivided trust, is a life worth living.

Anything else is ordinary and limited.

So what do you think?