We must begin to cross our lives over into the Kingdom of Heaven. If we do not do it now, we will never get the chance to do it. Let us ask God to show us how to follow the Lord Jesus and to give us the same passion as His early disciples—those who ultimately passed the test of faith. They were crucified upside down, boiled in hot oil, beheaded, and even devoured by wild beasts—that was their graduation. We may not face such physical suffering today, but there will surely be inner suffering we must bear. Yet for those who genuinely know the Lord, even inner suffering becomes a joy and a beauty.
For all of us who have not yet been wholehearted, let us begin to follow the Lord sincerely. If we don’t, we lose much by being Christians who have received such great grace. For grace is a complete package: first, the process of growth and perfection to become like Jesus; second, the cross. The Lord said, “Take My yoke upon you.” The yoke speaks of discipline that keeps us from becoming wild, and it also symbolizes servanthood—or the cross. Once we reach this level of surrender, we no longer need to say, “Do not be afraid of this or that,” because courage will arise on its own. We will never be able to withstand the shakings of life ahead unless we possess true surrender. True surrender is not merely giving our problems to God for His help, but choosing His Kingdom above all. It is difficult, but God Himself will lead us.
Following Jesus Christ is a profoundly personal matter. Each person’s zeal in discipleship is different. Still, anyone who truly encounters the Lord will be shaped in character and grow into spiritual maturity. Until finally, they have no purpose left in life except to serve God. Their entire existence becomes devoted to Him.
Sadly, many have become dull and uncomprehending. Yet this should be the very struggle of our lives: how to move our hearts from this world to the things above. For when we one day meet the Lord in His majesty and glory, but have failed to give Him a worthy portion of our lives on earth, we will regret it. It will feel as though we long to return to earth to serve Him, to follow Him with the maturity of Christ, even to suffer for Him, to bear the cross and participate in His work. But that opportunity will be gone, for time cannot be repeated.
That is why those who do not live in the truth will experience weeping and gnashing of teeth. Physical suffering—being burned by fire or losing a limb—may be lighter than the agony of regret they will feel. The weeping and gnashing of teeth are not mere cries of pain, but expressions of deep remorse and anguish—realizing that the chance has passed.
It is far better to rebuke and discipline ourselves now than to regret later. It is better to fear God today so that when we stand before Him, we will no longer need to worry. Those who have learned to fear God in this life will, when meeting Jesus Christ, feel peace and longing instead of dread.
Let each of us ask ourselves: “Do I truly long for the Lord?” If our hearts begin to divide, and our longing for Him weakens, we are experiencing distortion. We must not allow that to happen. Each day, we must become purer, undistorted by the world. Indeed, temptations will grow stronger—but through them, we learn to stand firm. The preparation we must have to face death and God’s judgment is this: choose His Kingdom. If we decide His Kingdom, it means we have surrendered ourselves and have no personal agenda except to please the Father. Such people will be able to stand before the Son of Man without fear. They are not afraid to face death.
If others mock us, let them. We need not respond. In that very moment, we will experience true freedom. When we truly choose the Kingdom of Heaven, we become genuine followers of Christ. Anything less is not Christianity. That is why the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Let us hold on to nothing. Remember, this world is unstable. Do not wait until old age to let go of everything. Even the young must learn to let go of all things. The key is this: there is no happiness outside of God. Only God Himself is our true joy.