All For Nothing
The young men take the stage
the children gather to listen
an epic story is to be told, for sure
of foes subdued
of challenges conquered
of the secret to their victories
The people walk away happy
like children fed candy, they will return
and return
and return
The young warriors take to the podium
swords in hand
as if ready to fight
but it is all a show
for the enemy lies within their hearts, still
ready to deceive
ready to poison
ready to kill
The people walk away excited and sure and ready to follow
in the footsteps of the young warriors
for they know not where this path leads
its end, they cannot yet see
"All for nothing!"
said the man whose treasure was burned
"All for nothing!"
said the woman whose children perished
"All for nothing!"
at last, said a young warrior
as he surveyed the masses
and wept
This summer
like many summers past
you will hear the thrilling tales
of two young men
who will offer you what may simply be termed an inoculation
This summer
like many summers past
you will be told that you can have it all
success, prestige, worldly acclaim, wealth, your best life now
and eternal life
This summer
like many summers past
you will be challenged to believe
that love of the world and love of God can co-exist in your heart
that what Jesus commanded is hard — but not so difficult nor impossible as some say
This summer
you will be presented with a false message, a half-truth
that will inspire you, but not save you
that will instill within your soul a love for the things you should forsake
you will be asked to work hard, where Jesus would call you to come and die
This summer
the cheap "gospel" is being sold in your town
the kind that offers you the world, not Christ in His fullness
the kind that promises life, without death
the kind without a real, rugged cross which you must carry and upon which you must hang
This summer
you are being invited to join the company of those
who hear not God's Voice
who speak of His Will but do it not in full when He requires that which is truly difficult
who pay little for what little they have and yet charge you for what God said should be free
This summer
for the low, low price of $30-40
you can be inoculated against that which would require your life, but save it
or for free you can pick up a Bible and read it
take up your cross, let go all other loves, answer the call of the One who requires your all
Many, I know
would rather pay a few dollars than give everything right down to their very life
for the "same 'gospel'"
who would buy a "product" for $500,000,000 when it's being offered for $40 by well-dressed traveling salesmen
unless they knew that one would save their life and the other was only worth as much as it cost
"All for nothing!"
the people said
who finished their race first, second, third place
only to find themselves in hell
only to find that they had run the wrong race
"All for nothing!"
the man said
who had once inspired others to do their best, to try their hardest
for all his efforts now proved useless, worthless, and empty
without the love that believes, counts all lost, grasps the rough wood of that inimitable torturous cross, obeys the Voice of the One who calls, follows, bleeds, hangs, dies, and declares it freedom