He Lost It.

He Lost it, and when he did, he gained much more.

My wife and I attended a funeral the other day for an extended family member. It was not a sudden loss, for all who knew him knew his passing might be near.   The minister did a good job and shared some details of this man’s life. In describing him, the pastor shared the transformation that the man experienced about three years prior to his death. At that time, he had had a very serious illness and ended up in the hospital on what was thought to be his death bed. But he didn’t die. He recovered! And his recovery led to his transformation. The minister stated, “He lost it.” Not an angry temper kind of “lost it,” but he lost “it”—the angry temper itself.

I’ve lost it (my temper, frustration, courage,) in many ways–with my children, my wife, my friends, even with strangers. Many of us have. Many of us lose these things on a daily basis. When these things have more control of us, than we do of them‚ that’s when things can take hold and become habit and even sin.

So, what can we do about losing it? We can really lose it! We can give it to God. The gentleman whose service we attended spent a lot of wasted years—and it was a near-death experience which caused him to evaluate his eternity. Everyone who knew him seemed to be in agreement that his last three years were his best. Our lives should be better each year that we grow, live, and become more Christ-like.

As the minister spoke, I couldn’t help but think about my own life—as most of us probably do when attending a funeral. Although I want my last years to be “better,” too—think of all the good that could have come from his life—or your life—if we lose it—and are transformed by His grace. In the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus Himself says, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (16:25). It shouldn’t take a near-death experience to wake us up to the fact that we have a rather short existence in this world, and that we need to be transformed by grace sooner than later!

We can lose it—and give it to Christ. Today.

What things in your life can you—should you—lose for good?