The End of the Road …

Luke 18:31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem … ESV

In the Greek it reads: He took unto Him the twelve (paralabon; to associate with oneself in an intimate relationship; to learn); He chose them. But many of us say that He can’t choose us because there is nothing of value in us, no reason for Him to choose us. But that is the very reason He “takes” us. On the other hand, if we think there is something of value in us that causes Him to “choose” us to go with Him to Jerusalem, we prevent Him from doing so. And the reason is that we still hold on to reasons of our own to serve Him; e.g. We have not come to the end of ourself, the end of our self-sufficiency … the end of the road.

If we let Jesus bring us to the end of ourself He can “take” us with Him to our Jerusalem; to the place where we will fulfill our purpose, the purpose we have been given by Him for this life. It is not a question of our ability; what we bring with us (natural abilities, knowledge and experience). Paul makes that abundantly clear in his message to the Corinthians.

1 Cor 1:26-31 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” ESV

The only ones who are partners with Jesus in this journey are those who know their poverty. He can’t use and does not choose the ones who think that they are of use to Him. Just like the twelve didn’t know what was in store for them in Jerusalem, we don’t know what Jesus is after in our life. When He “takes” us, our only responsibility is to maintain our relationship with Him, wherever He leads and whatever happens.

The main thing about our walk with God, is not the work that we do.  It’s about the relationship with Jesus that we maintain. That is all He asks us to do, which is the one thing that is constantly attacked by the enemy. The answer is to come to the End of the Road … the end of our road … and follow Him to Jerusalem.