The Invitation

“Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it? It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies, and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.” — Francis Chan

---

In the Great Commission, Jesus invites His followers to be part of the greatest movement in history. He calls us to leave everything behind. And in return, He promises us that our lives will be filled to the brim with adventure and risk and goodness and the fullness of His grace. The invitation has been sent out. How will we respond? The answer to this one question changes everything: How. will. we. respond? 

If Jesus is who He says He is…. How can we respond with anything but our full lives? How can we not drop everything to fulfill His final command to us? How dare we let complacency, relationships, money, fear, laziness get in the way of following Him with everything we have? How dare we claim to know Jesus if we are not willing to sacrifice everything for His sake? 

I want this abundant life that Jesus promises. I want to live. I don’t want to talk about adventure, I want to live. I don’t want to spend my whole life planning. I want to live. 

One of my biggest fears is missing it. I’m afraid that one day I’ll be 40 years old with a big house and a garage full of expensive cars and still have missed it. I’m afraid of wasting my years in college worrying about finding a well-paying job or the right guy or a decent life insurance plan. I’m afraid standing in front of my disengaged husband with regret as deep as the ocean, wishing I would’ve risked more, ventured further, loved harder. 

I don’t want to miss it. And I pray that this generation doesn’t miss it either.

  What will you remember when you look back at your youth?

When I stand at the foot of His throne on that glorious day, I will not remember senior prom or the job that I held for 15 years or any of the treasures I built up for myself. I will stand before the living God with wonder in my eyes and reflect on my short life on earth and remember the moments I experienced abundant life. Those brief glimpses of heaven. And I pray that I will hear those words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

If we believe that the God of miracles split the red sea to deliver His people, how does that change the way we bring our impossible situations to the foot of the throne? If we believe that the God who formed planets with the vapor of His breath, how does that change the way we worship Him with fear and reverence?  

How will we respond? 

Because here’s the truth: I’ve met too many Christ followers who have never once shared the gospel with anyone. There is something fundamentally wrong with the church if this is our response. Francis Chan explains it perfectly: “And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.” Is that enough for you? We sing songs about how the oceans roar His greatness, and then we go home and bicker with our families and stress about paying the bills. That just blows me away. Jesus’ last instruction to us was to go into all the nations and proclaim the Good News. 

If you claim to know Jesus, how will you respond?

It’s taken me 18 years to recognize this. I’m only now discovering what it means to respond to who He is. And as far as my life is concerned, He can have it all. He is worth it all. He is worth everything. 

I write this in tears. I wish I could just sit down with every person who does not yet know Jesus and tell them what He’s done for me. I wish I could explain that life with Jesus is so fulfilling and satisfying—it’s like taking a drink of water after wandering for years in the desert. Following Jesus is like finally reaching the summit of the mountain after spending your whole life in the valleys. If you’ve been following Jesus for a long time but have not yet released your grip on the world, I’m telling you—there’s more. Don’t miss it. Don’t spend your life under the legalism of Christianity. Discover the Father’s heart for you. He's good and faithful and even thinking about His character has me dancing on rooftops. 

I’m determined to not miss it. Will you settle for comfort, apathy, and numbness? Or will you step into freedom and life to the full? 

How will you respond?