What comes to your mind when someone asks you the meaning of sacrifice?Some people may turn back to the Old Testament to illustrate the meaning of sacrifice. Others may think of sacrificing a part of their life for God in order to bring his glory to light and to free up every part of their life to be filled entirely by the Holy Spirit. My name is Mike Linton, and I have been called to sacrifice things that I thought were most important to me in order to fulfill the truly important things that God has in trusted in all of us. That sacrifice took the things that were number one in my life and canceled them out of the equation. The new equation became my ultimate formula to follow Christ to every place that he has called me to go. The calling became known as the World Race, and it will allow me to follow my savior to 11 different countries in 11 months. I look at this mission as the best opportunity to destroy my materialistic behavior and to bring about the reason not just for the season, but also for our entire lifespan on earth and for eternity.
In Genesis, Abraham is the man that has the privilege to experience several encounters with God and is told time and time again that he will be the father of many nations. Wow! Can you imagine being told by God, in all his glory, that YOU will be the father of many nations? Abraham's faithfulness exceeds the meaning of faith we see during our lifetimes. In Chapter 14 of Genesis, Abraham proves his faith by attacking a superior army with only 318 men. Abraham's faith transcends throughout the first part of Genesis, but his faith becomes more humanistic when he says, "Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?" Finally we see that Abraham struggles just like us by questioning God on his ability to deliver the surrounding land into his possession. I struggle in the same way as Abraham, because my faith is weak, and that causes me to question God.
For the last two years I have felt like I needed to give my life to God, but I just did not trust him to fill me back up again. That was my biggest mistake! Why in the world did I believe that way? I can tell you that I felt this way because my worldly things were too precious to me, and the thought of going against the grain was terrifying. God has blessed me throughout my life, protected me, created this earth, created the heavens, sent his son Jesus to take on our sin, called us to reach out to our brothers and sisters, and I had the nerve to doubt his abilities. I bet Abraham felt the same way after he questioned God!
God decided to take control of my life, and he flipped my world upside down and shook it around so that everything fell out, but I was left holding on to the strong arm of God. This lonely world that I used to call "Myspace" has become the "Facebook" profile of my Lord and Savior, and I love every minute of it. I’m not saying that everything is working out perfectly, but I can finally see clearly. I know anything radical that the lord asks me to do I can accomplish, because he is my NUMBER ONE, and he controls my life.
My faith is progressing, but my ultimate goal is to have faith like Abraham. In the last days of Abraham's life God tested him. God asked Abraham to take his only son Isaac to a mountain in the region of Moriah to sacrifice him. The word does not express any doubt from Abraham and says that he goes straight to the mountains as God had commanded him. Before Abraham slays his son the angel of the lord stops him and says, "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." God does not tempt people. He tests people, and he does this to confirm their faith. I believe that God is testing me to see if I will give up all my worldly things and follow him to 11 different countries to bring him glory! My ultimate goals were once to have a great job, money, good grades, and temporary happiness. NOW my ultimate goals are giving glory to God, following him, helping others, seeking his face, and ETERNAL HAPPINESS!!! In the end when I finish this test, I hope that God can say, "Now I know that you fear God…" and that my faith is confirmed. God is real, Jesus is his son, His Joy is everlasting, Faith in him brings eternal life, and HE has invited you to an eternal party! Will you RSVP? LETS LIVE FOR HIM WHO DIED FOR US!!!!!!
