You know that you are a Christian. You want to go to heaven, but you want to enjoy life, here on earth, to its fullest before going heavenward. You know, you want to get your ticket to heaven but not take this religious thing too far. You want to enjoy as much as you can of the desires of the world while earth bound.
Jakob Mendelssohn, the great musician, once visited Freiburg Cathedral when the regular organist was practicing. Mendelssohn asked whether he might play a few bars. At first the organist, not knowing the visitor, refused the request, but on second thought acceded, though somewhat reluctantly. Mendelssohn began to play. The cathedral’s organist listened in ecstasy and then, placing his hand on Mendelssohn’s shoulder, asked, “Who are you?” “Mendelssohn,” was his answer. “Oh!” the organist exclaimed. “To think that I almost refused to let the great Mendelssohn play for me!” How foolish it is for Christians to refuse Christ to have full control over their lives. Just think of all the beautiful music you could play, if only you lived totally for the Lord every moment of every day.
Jesus does not want just part of you; He wants all of you. You call your savior, “the Lord Jesus Christ.” How can you call Jesus, “Lord,” and not be in full obedience to Him? He is your Lord, and you are the servant; a servant in biblical times had to obey the master totally without any regard to their own interests. Luke 9:23 states, “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’” Notice, the command: totally forsake personal interests (“deny himself’) and obey Christ fully (“follow Me”).
Instead of only getting fifty cents of God, give Him 100% of yourself. Now, that is living a fulfilled life!
