A sacrifice of commitment

Ralph had stopped visiting Dark Angel Nightclub but found it difficult to let go of his friends with whom he previously enjoyed a weekly night out at the club.

His friends persuaded him several times to hang out with them at the nightclub. After much pressure, he gave in.

That night, when Ralph agreed to hang out with his friends at the club, he was not prepared for what happened. About 20 minutes after arriving, Rose, his ex-girlfriend walked in and headed straight for the empty seat next to Ralph.

“Apologies, I came late”, Rose said to Ralph, smiling.

“I wasn’t expecting you. Why are you here?”

“You haven’t been returning my calls or responding to my messages. I miss you so much”

“That’s not what I asked”, Ralph said and started to walk towards the exit. Rose followed him.

“I just wanted to let you know that I miss our time together and don’t mind going to church with you if we could continue our relationship”, Rose said.

“Sorry, that’s not how it works”, Ralph told her.

Ralph and Rose had been living together in an immoral relationship as they were not married. But things changed when Ralph heard the gospel message from a friend at work. He gave his life to Jesus, explained his newfound faith to Rose, quit the relationship, and moved out of the house. Rose could not understand the sudden changes.

“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:30).

Following Jesus means that we are totally committed to Him and actively distance ourselves from anything that will make us go against God’s commandments. We have to cut off connections to anything or persons that will take us back to our old lifestyle. Of course, it is going to involve painful goodbyes. However, if we are serious about following our Saviour, no sacrifice is going to be too much to pay so we can focus on Him who has paid the greatest sacrifice.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17).