"Laying Down Your Life"
by Karin Paparelli

I had a conversation with a young man. I met him in front of a grocery store at 9:30PM on a Saturday night. He was just hanging out with his friend. We got to talking about spiritual things ( I had hit the streets as part of an evangelism team at a JESUS film outreach, so that was my goal). He had lots of questions, really good questions. But the one that cut to the chase was "Why are you doing this?" This of course meaning evangelism. I thought for a moment before I answered him. Why am I doing this? It was a Saturday night. It was cold and damp. I could be doing anything, anything! So why this? Why walk the streets praying for divine appointments, when I could be home with my husband and children all snug on the sofa with a hot cup of tea and a movie? The answer was simple yet profound. I told him, "My life is not my own anymore. I gave my life to God and now I work for Him." And that was the truth. I was there because that is where He sent me. Yet it was my choice.

Organizing outreaches is a choice and a sacrifice. It doesn't just happen. It takes prayer and planning and physical work, not just for me but for my husband and our three children, Brad and the evangelism team. It takes the hospitality and support of places like the Lighthouse Mission, Emanuel Lutheran Church, Jackson Temple #2. There are many others who join us who also make the same choice to lay down their lives and follow Him, regardless of the cost. The nets are cast and the catch is plentiful. In two months we have seen more than 200 people come to Christ through the JESUS film outreaches (right here on Long Island!).

But even when we see no external fruit, we need to go. Even when it seems all hell has broken out against us, we need to go. Why? Because Jesus said if you love me you will obey my commands. We cannot say , Yes Lord and then not go. The words of the Master are clear, "Go therefor into all the world and preach the good news to all creation". There is a whole world out there, people that Jesus died for. He still leaves the 99 sheep in search of the one. Can we do any less?

I believe that when Jesus comes into your life and turns it all around, you have a choice. What are you going to do with it? Are you going to sit back and coast the rest of your life or are you going to get radical for the kingdom of God? The former seems kind of boring and predicable, I'll take the latter. This Christian walk wasn't meant to put you to sleep, but to be the adventure of a lifetime. The choice is yours. It is really easy to begin, just pray a prayer like this, "Father God, I want to be in the middle of whatever you're doing no matter the cost!" I suspect He just loves that one. He wants us to be involved with Him in all kinds of stuff, not just evangelism (although I'm hard pressed to think of anything more satisfying).

So what hinders more people from getting radical? I'm not entirely sure but it may be fear. We are so afraid of doing something new, or maybe confronting the enemy( a defeated foe). Another reason I believe is self. Webster defines selfish as, "being devoted to oneself". You can imagine how that might get in the way of doing the will of God. Don't misunderstand me, none of us have arrived yet, we all deal with selfishness to some degree. Becoming selfless is not instantaneous. It doesn't happen the moment you get saved. Being transformed into the image of Jesus is a journey. When we come to Christ the journey has only begun. It will take a lifetime to walk out our new life in Christ, and the world will be watching. It is a slow process, one that involves dying daily to oneself.

Jesus said if you want to find your life you must lose it. That means all of it; your comfort, your self image, your time, your agenda, your plan, your ideas, maybe even some of your friends. Jesus said we were to take up our cross and follow Him. He wasn't inviting us to a pot luck dinner. It is a serious undertaking to follow Jesus. And yet He also said that He would give us life abundantly, and He does. He wasn't talking about living in a large house or owning the nice st car. The abundance is not in the natural, but in the spiritual. We can find this in His example. He wasn't concerned with amassing a fortune while on earth. His concern was for the eternal welfare of His followers. If you examine His life closely you will discover that everything He did was for the kingdom of God. He did nothing on His own but rather according to the will of the Father. That is what he calls us to. To live in obedience to the Father.

Jesus took the first step when He died on the cross, the next one is up to you. Will you lay down your life for Him? Will you join Him in what He is doing. He is moving right now across Long Island, across the world. The whole earth will soon be ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit. But don't be surprised if you cannot see it from inside your church. Much of what He's doing is outside our church buildings; on the streets, in the prisons, in the marketplace. Come on out and see for yourself.

Outreaches for 2001 are already filling our calendar. With spring just around the corner, we'll be back on the streets again. If you or your church is interested in joining us as we ‘fish for men' drop me an email at info@btkm.org or call Brad Crook at the Christian Life Times.

Oh yeah, as for my young friend at the grocers, he couldn't make up his mind that night about Jesus. Although I suspect he went home with a lot to think about. His friend, however, did come to the Lord that night and you can be assured that all of heaven rejoiced with us! See you soon? May you walk in His grace. Thy kingdom come!

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