The Big Move

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. 

“Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. 

You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. 

“One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, 

and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man's face fell. 

He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 

“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words. 

But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle 

than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, 

“Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, 

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

 Mark 10:17-27

Shortly after Trent's accident, and his glorious welcome into Heaven, the treasures of this world began to pale in comparison to what was waiting ahead for me in eternity. The material possessions that I had previously held on to so tightly in this life soon revealed themselves to be anchors that were holding me back from serving God. Along with those thoughts, a great conviction that none of this world's hoarded wealth would go with me into Heaven began to consume my thinking.

A lifestyle that had taken years to establish was shattered in a single day when I saw all too clearly that my efforts had been poured into building my own kingdom rather than God's. My eyes were suddenly opened to understand the opportunity that stood right before me through Jesus' offer when He said,

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, 

where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

 Matthew 6:19-21

After reading the challenging words of Scripture, it was easy to trust my Savior for this promise, too. The conviction caused me to start praying for God to take the farm, along with its financial burden and consuming claim on our time, if that was His will.

Two years later He revealed to us that it was His will. In a beautifully laid out plan, Rob and I were directed to a little plot of land that instantly felt like home. In a step of faith, even before any contracts were signed, we started selling the animals and farm equipment until we had raised enough money to pay cash for our soon-to-be lake view paradise.

Then, in a perfectly chaotic God plan that included another ample step of faith, we were led to purchase a home to be brought to the new property in a whirlwind fashion. Rather than moving us immediately, though, God allowed a sabbatical of many months to say goodbye to our beloved crazy farm; a much needed rest to prepare us for the work that He has planned for our future. Now, the anticipation runs high in our family to see how God is going to finish the story of our lives. My greatest desire is that it will be in a way that we can uninhibitedly be poured out to advance His kingdom.

To God be the glory!