that they might be with Him . . .

Studying the Gospel of Mark, I came across these words . . . “And He went up to the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him . . . . ” (Mark 3:14)

When I read these words, time stopped. Chills went down my spine. Since then, they have been haunting my mind for weeks. Not in the sense of scary, but in the sense of beautiful. Hauntingly beautiful. I would so love to have been in the shoes of those twelve. To be with Jesus, every second of every day – hearing His teaching, seeing His miracles, watching His interaction with people and with life around Him. Wouldn’t you give almost anything to be there? Weren’t they so lucky? But then I remember . . . He chose me for the very same purpose . . . to be with Him. How easily deceived we can be. How easily we can forget what we have available to ourselves in Him and leave it unused on the shelf.

Yes, the twelve were with Him, but they could not yet understand Him. They’d have given anything at that point to have what Jesus’ disciples now have. They followed Him everywhere, listened to His every word, saw His every deed, but it wasn’t clicking. They were in awe of Him, confused by Him, afraid of Him, and had no clue what He had come to do and why. It wasn’t until later (after He died and rose again on their behalf) that their eyes were opened to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45). And it was only after they received the Holy Spirit that they could understand all of the things that Jesus had spoke to them. (John 16:12-13) They made the choice to follow Him for years before they really knew who He was and what He wanted from them.

Yet now, on this side of the resurrection, we have access to be with Him all of the time. 24/7. The moment that I placed my trust in Christ and chose to follow Him, I had more than they had. Each time I awake, I have the opportunity to spend the entire day with Jesus . . . quite literally. When I made that initial choice to put my faith in Him as my Savior, and to follow Him as my Lord, He changed me forever. (2 Corinthians 5:17) He placed His Holy Spirit inside of me (Ephesians 1:13) immediately. In a very real sense, Christ is in His Father, and I am in Him, and He is in me (John 14:20). I am spiritually very close to Jesus at all times.

But isn’t it is so easy to take this for granted – to ignore it? To go throughout our days planning infrequent rendezvous with Him (a quiet time here, a prayer time there) rather than being with Him all day long. We miss out when we do this, because this is eternal life . . . knowing Him . . . being with Him . . . joining Him in His work (John 17:3). This is where real life begins. (1 John 5:20)

So many who wear the name “Christian” are missing out on eternal life. And then they wonder what’s messed up. “Maybe this Christian thing doesn’t work,” they wonder. “Maybe it’s just not for me.” Wrong conclusion. The right answer – “Maybe I don’t understand eternal life.” Eternal life is not a destination. It is not something I put in my pocket for now and pull out in the future when I die. It is not eternal existence. Everyone will exist forever. The only difference between eternal life and eternal death is the quality of the eternal existence. Eternal life is the quality of life that is experienced by those who are with Christ . . . starting today and continuing throughout eternity. (1 John 5:20) Eternal life is today, or it’s never. In fact, many will be surprised in that day when they arrive at His throne expecting to join Him in heaven, only to hear, “Depart from Me. I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

If you are His disciple, He did not choose you to believe in Him. He chose you to be with Him. And not for His benefit . . . for yours. Today . . . be with Him. For He Himself says, ” . . . abide in Me . . .” “Long for the pure milk of the Word, ” “pray without ceasing,” “rejoice always,” “in everything give thanks.” Embrace your eternal life to the fullest.

He chose you ” . . . that [you] might be with Him . . .”

A Deeper Life . . .

Once upon a time there was a boy. Just an ordinary boy, mind you. Same story told a thousand times before. Oldest of four. Divorced parents. Raised by Hollywood (aka television and radio). Paid attention. Figured out life at a young age. A good life = love, security, and pleasure. Love = married to a centerfold. Security = money. Pleasure = stuff, lots and lots of stuff. How to get there? Achievement! Plan A – Great athletes get the women and the money. Plan B (just in case) – top grades = top college = top job = good money. Went for it. Obsessed, some would say. Driven. Outworked all others.

Success . . . sort of. High school football star, basketball star, track star = hot sex life. Serious study = top grades. Scholarships. College success. Same song, second verse. Problem . . . . emptiness. This cannot be happening. Following the equation. It’s not working. Must try harder. Darkness. Confusion.

Surprise! Light shining into darkness . . . from an unanticipated source. An ancient text. Out-of-date. Antiquated. Intriguing. True? Couldnt’ be.  No way. Goals had been established. A life had been devoted to their achievement. They were . . . well . . . gods. Can’t give them up now . . . just when they are starting to be realized. But in the dark recesses of the soul . . . doubt. Are these dreams empty promises? . . . shallow? . . . fake?.

The ancient text continued to illuminate. A deeper life. There . . . on every page . . . laid out for all to see. Calling. Beckoning. Promising the very thing that could not be found . . . . “I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” A completely new paradigm. A good life is not a thing, not an equation, not an achievement . . . it’s a person . . . it’s a relationship? “Follow me,” he said. Sorry . . . can’t. Have plans. Have dreams. Have . . . excuses.

Nose stuck in the ancient text, looking for answers. An irreversible process. Words of truth shining ever brighter onto a life . . . exposing it for what it really is . . . a failure. The objects pursued had been obtained . . . achievement, sex, popularity, possessions. But the fruit that they promised did not come with them. Love, security, peace, lasting happiness . . . missing in action. A total failure. A whole life based on a lie . . . an empty promise. Now . . . for the first time . . . sight. There really was nothing to give up. What had been obtained wasn’t worth hanging onto. And not alone in this dilemma.  The problem bigger still. A worldwide epidemic. A whole planet pursuing gods of its own making, hoping to find a life that was not there to be found. The blind leading the blind. Light. Sight. Wisdom. A choice to be made. Could one risk it all . . . leave the world behind . . . believe . . . follow?

October 10, 1980. A little gymnasium. A concert. A speaker. “Choose tonight. Will you follow?” Will you trust the ancient text, leave your old life behind, enter into a new relationship, and begin a deeper life? Fear. Doubt. A surge of power! Clarity! A choice to make! A choice made! Goodbye old life. Hello new.

Twenty-seven years later. What a ride! Yet only just begun.  Eternity is a long time . . . or not.

There is a deeper life. Not wishful thinking. Not empty promises. Reality 101. Truth. Light. Do you hear? Are you listening? There is an ancient text. It contains light. It changed a life. It still is. One of countless millions so affected.  He is there. He can change you. Do you dare?

“If you grab onto my Words, you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

So here are shared with you the simple reflections of a simple man . . . a failure on his own, who unwittingly, but thankfully, became the recipient of an amazing grace. Ancient truths . . . pure light . . . a way which leads to the deeper life.

“I will never forget your words, for by them you have revived me.”