What Have You Lost?

One night at the highschool small group I attend, I was asked one of the most important, difficult, and challenging, questions I have ever heard. My youth pastor looked at our youth group and asked "What have you lost?" ...We didnt really know what to say or how to respond. One, because we didnt know what he actually meant and two, those four words were so powerful even without a meaning.

He further went on to say, "If you lived your life following God, then died and it turned out that God isnt real afterall, What have you lost?"
I took a couple minutes to think about it and I ask you to do the same. Re-read the question and think about how you would answer.

Well if I died and it turned out that there is no God afterall, I would have lost friendships that I could of had. Parties I could have gone to. Boys I could have hooked up with or dated. I could have fitted in with the in-crowd. And all the other crazy things this world offers us. Did you think of any of these things?

Then he asked us a even harder question! Yes, another question. Please have a open heart about this question I will be giving you.

"If you lived your life not believing or following God, then died and turned out that God was real, What have you lost?" Re-read it, think about it, take it in.

We would lose a Father who loves us through our failures and accomplishments, a Father who is the Father to the fatherless (Like me: God is my daddy (: ), and a Father who is there for it all and loves you through the good and bad. A King who has already won and owns the victory, a King who takes care of His people, and a King who is above any king and treats everyone the same. A Savior who offers us eternal life, a Savior who gives us strength and protects us, and a Savior who vanquishes all evil and has experienced everything we have. A Friend who sticks closer than a brother, a Friend who will never forsake us or do wrong-doings to us, and a Friend who died for our sins even though we didnt deserve it at all.
     
    A God who loves us unconditionally, forgives all wrongs, knows us better than we know ourselves, who created us, and has plans for us.

Yes, the world offers cool things, but those things are mostly fun only during a season of our life. But, the things that God offers us, are beyond our lifetime, beyond the "coolness" of the things of this world, and are just so darn awesome! I am so glad that something greater than anything in this world loves me and you, cares about me and you, and wants us to live a good, hopeful, happy life. Its cool knowing that the Creator of the universe chose you and me.

A lot to take in! I know that feeling. I experienced it when Pastor Brian asked those questions. But I know that a lot of you can handle it.

And I pray that this speaks to you and helps you with your walk or Journey through this life!

-Haley Dorsey