I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage, “Being at the right place at the right time.” It’s happened to me before. Not too long ago, I had been shopping, and after I had paid and was walking out, a guy stopped me. There were some lottery machines set up on the way out. This fellow had been stocking the machines and I guess he had ran a few tickets out to make certain it was working. When he stopped me, he asked, “would you like to have some free lottery tickets?” Of course I would. He handed me about ten or so tickets. They would have gone to whoever was going out at that time and I just happened to be the guy. Of course, I didn’t win anything, but I did get free tickets!
Being at the right place is very advantageous. Of course, in the example being at the right place was just an instance of chance. However, when it comes to our eternal spirits, being at the right place takes obedience and trust in God. One of the greatest examples of this comes from our Lord, Jesus Christ, Himself. It was the most serious time of His physical life on Earth. After what we call, the Last Supper, Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane where He left them to go pray. What He prayed about decided the fate for everyone in the world. He knew what was coming. Being God in the flesh – truly God and truly human, He knew that in a few hours the temple soldiers would be there to take Him, where He would suffer beatings and ultimately crucifixion. I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine how difficult that would be. He could have called down the armies of Heaven to rescue Him from such a fate, but He didn’t. Why? We would have. I would have. But Jesus was looking beyond His humanity, looking to the mission He was to fulfill. His suffering and death, together with His resurrection, would completely pay the penalty for sin for each person who would accept His sacrifice. See what I mean? Serious stuff. You can read the incident in Luke 22:39-45.
His agonizing prayer in Gethsemane can also be an example for us. You see, Jesus was at the place, paying the price, and He was rewarded with peace, despite what was coming. We too can come to the place, pay the price and have peace.
What is that place? Where are we to go to get such peace? And while we’re talking about it, what is the peace we’re talking about? The place we need to come to is called “the Place of Surrender.” Where is that place? It could be slightly different for each of us, but the path leads to the same place. No, I’m not suggesting that “all roads lead to Heaven.” Not at all. Jesus is still the only door (John 10:7-9). What I mean is that there will come a time when God will put us in a place or situation that requires us to make a choice.
How can we know when we are in that place? You will know. How? You will feel in your heart the urgency to make a choice. Physically that place may be different, but in your spirit, it is always the same. That place will confront each of us with a choice to make. Will we choose to be saved or lost? It’s the most important choice we will ever make in life. That’s the place.
Then there’s the price. The price Jesus paid was tremendous. He gave His very life. Yes, He was God. The Bible tells us that He was “God with us,” (see Matthew 1:23). But He had laid His divinity aside, taking on a garment of flesh. He felt pain as we do. He was tempted just like us, even though He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). So, when He prayed in the Garden, in the place, and His sweat was like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44), He felt the agony in His spirit. He felt every blow from the hands that beat Him. He felt each strike of the whip He was beaten with and He felt every agonizing moment on the cross. He became the victor over His agony and pain when He arose the third day.
What is our price? It is giving everything we are to Christ. Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? But think of it; Jesus paid such a price in our place. The great punishment He endured was all for you and for me. He did it for each and every person who comes to Him in repentance. The price we pay is saying yes, that we acknowledge His sacrifice. Yes, we accept Him as our Savior. Yes, we give everything we are (which, when we think about it, in comparison is a very small price to pay to escape eternal death). Our price is to accept the free gift of grace given us by Jesus Christ. Just think of it; we have to work to go to eternal punishment, but we get a free gift of eternal life by accepting Christ as our Savior. As with any gift, we have to accept it. That’s our part – to accept the free gift of salvation by the grace of Jesus Christ.
Then comes the peace. God gave Jesus peace about the situation and the Bible tells us that “… an angel appeared to Him f rom Heaven strengthening Him.” (Luke 22:43). I’m not sure how wonderful that would be, to have an actual angel appear and strengthen me. But I think it must have been an experience like no other. I’ll never forget the night I gave my heart to the Lord. When I got home, as a young teenager, I could hardly sleep. Even my breathing was in a tune of praise to God. What a peace I felt.
This doesn’t mean that from the time you accept Christ everything is going to come up roses. It doesn’t mean that our life is going to be successful and full of good things. Butterflies and bluebirds aren’t going to start landing on our shoulders singing a happy song. But what we do find is that from that moment on, no matter what happens we can have a peace that reaches beyond understanding or human comprehension (1 Peter 1:8). In the midst of pain or persecution, we can still have a joy and a peace that this world will never understand.
What about it? Are you at the place? Will you pay the price? If so, you can have the peace.
— Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.