Why bother?

It’s like that guy who happened upon a hidden treasure in a field. He gladly went out and sold all he had so that he could purchase the field ( Matthew 13:44 ). At first glance, his willingness to go to great lengths, even costs, seems risky. But not to him. This guy knows what’s at stake. He knows the sacrifice is worth all he has and MORE! He has laid eyes on the prize worth following hard for- the transformation that is about to happen.

Even though this parable is using the temporal context of acquiring wealth to illustrate an eternal principle, the truth is the same. The effort and cost are definitely worth the end result! The transformation, whether financial or spiritual, will make the sacrifice minimal compared to the gain.

You don’t know what you don’t know.

I didn’t know about it.

Maybe you don’t either.

I was raised in the church, yet still….. I didn’t know the extent of what could be found in Christ. I’m not sure the three disciples knew it either.

 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Matthew 17:1-8 NIV

What It Took For The Transformation To Take Place

6 things happened that day-

1. Jesus chose to reveal Himself.

2. He chose who would view it.

3. He led them up the mountain for it to happen.

4. Christ made it an intimate, personal experience.

5. He transformed before them.

6. His 3 disciples saw and heard what would change them forever.

 

We learn that there is more to Jesus than what meets the eye! Even though Peter, James, and John knew Christ intimately, having lived with Him as they traveled for His ministry, there was still a huge component of Jesus they had no clue about.

I was much the same!

Although I knew Jesus as my Savior, I had little understanding of the magnitude of who He is or what He intended for me. The love and fellowship, the intimacy of a personal, daily relationship were not what I understood from salvation through Christ. It was only after taking Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing God” that I learned about the love relationship priority that God had for His children.

Jesus is so much more than a ticket for our eternal security!

Jesus is so much more than a ticket for our eternal security! Share on X

Through that study, Christ revealed Himself to me and I have never been the same! But it took my obedience and effort to experience it fully. He extended the invitation and it was my responsibility to accept it. If I had chosen to stay uninformed, I could have.

The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].” John 14:21 AMP

It takes acceptance of the call for salvation AND it takes obedience to follow Him for the depth of relationship He offers. He who follows little will receive little, so to speak. When Jesus beckoned those 3 disciples to follow Him, it would require effort, great effort more than likely, as they were led by Jesus UP THE MOUNTAIN.

It takes will and stamina to go up a mountain.

Anyone who is lazy or uninterested will not agree for that kind of commitment, no matter what the view is like! I get that because I am naturally lazy and self-absorbed.

For those disciples to see what they saw, they had to sweat and strain to follow Him for the ultimate experience of the transformation. It is like that for you and me. If we won’t commit to following hard after Him through prioritizing Him in our lives, then we will miss out on His Glory as the disciples would have had they not followed.

It says that Jesus led them up by themselves– it is a personal, intimate invitation He offers. We cannot experience it through someone else’s vantage point. Can anyone adequately describe to another person the grandeur of a snow-capped mountain range? How about the Majesty of a Savior then?

When we have the knowledge of what more there is to Christ apart from “hell insurance”, coupled with the invitation to follow Him for such that He promises to reveal, we will not be disappointed. We will be thrilled!

Who doesn't want a relationship with Christ that thrills them like no other?! Share on X

What Transformation Is At Stake

There is much to gain or much to lose by deciding whether to follow hard “up the mountain” of commitment for Jesus. I have seen two transformations take place as I answer that call.

• His
• Mine

It is there up on the mountain of commitment, where I am alone with my Savior apart from the hustle and bustle of the world that I see the transformation take place. The Jesus I knew through Sunday School transforms before my eyes into the treasure He becomes through personal, time-warranted intimacy.

If I don’t follow hard, if I’m unwilling to pay the price of sweat and stamina to go up the mountain, I miss out.

TERRIBLY!

Not just in missing His transformation into what is precious and dearly valued, but I also miss out on how that affects me! You see, as He transforms before my eyes, I am gloriously transformed.

Just like those disciples that day, you cannot “unsee” the miracle that took place. What they saw was living, eternal glory displayed, and what they heard was just as powerful. Notice how in verse 5 God commands them to listen to His Son. What’s even more interesting is how God said it- with an exclamation point. He wasn’t just suggesting it, He was being emphatic about it!

God knows how truly paying attention to Christ and listening to His words will impact not just the disciples on the mountain but all of us. To know Him is to love Him, whereby we become transformed in the process.

It’s not too good to be true!

Once I found out what could become my experience, my living reality with an Eternal Savior, I was not willing to follow Him any other way but full-on! I was not who I was before and He is the reason! This is still my main desire each day and one of the ways I put feet to action is to pray Scripture that describes what I want. This is the most recent passage I have been praying for several months.

 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19

If you are lackluster in your view of Christ, let me be the one to tell you, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE! But you have to follow hard to find it out for yourself. And just like that guy in the field, once you catch sight of what can be yours, whatever it takes to gain it, you will be willing to sacrifice………