Is It Worth It?

Many of us come to points of life wherein we wonder, "Is it worth it?" Athletes drive themselves to exhaustion to accomplish goals that few will realize, wondering if it is worth it all. People in vocations that serve other people give of the best of caring hearts, only to get kicked in the teeth and discouraged over and over again. Folks trying to exercise and lose weight try to make all kinds of lifestyle changes, only to lose a pound or two. Parents do all they can to shape their children's character and values, and the kids still wander down dangerous paths. Students try to get their ACT scores up to a number that will impress good colleges, they take the test over and over, and the score doesn't budge. Is it worth it?

The man known as Jesus of Nazareth had a goal in his life. It was not a goal for his personal benefit. It was a goal that would change the destiny of all humanity. Consider some of the things he had to face to get the task accomplished. He had to work his way out of the constrictions of a lower class hometown. He had to survive a forty day period in a barren desert region. When he went back to visit his hometown, they threw him out. Some people were threatened by him everywhere he went. One of his best friends betrayed him. He was arrested on trumped up charged. He was beaten and whipped within and inch of his life. At the moment of his execution, everyone but his mother and a couple of his closest friends abandoned him. Surely along the way he wondered, "Is it worth it?"

Yet with every barrier and discouragement in his way, including his own grisly death, Jesus aimed at his goal anyway. He did so even if it would make no difference to anyone. What would drive a person to do such a think. Think about that. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.