We Will Sell Our Lives Dearly
by Kevin Weatherby
“Texas has been a second chance for me. I expect that might be true for many of you as well. It has been a chance not only for land and riches, but also to be a different man. I hope a better one.”
“There have been many ideas brought forth in the past few months of what Texas is and what it should become. But we are not all in agreement. But I’d like to ask each of you what it is you value so highly that you are so willing to fight and possibly die for. We will call that Texas.”
“The Mexican Army hopes to lure us into a chance at escape. Almost anything seems better than staying in this place penned up. If, however, we force the enemy to attack, I believe every one of you will prove himself worth 10 in return. We will not only show the world what patriots are made of, but we will also deal a crippling blow to the army of Santa Anna. If anyone of you wishes to depart under the white flag of surrender, you may do so now. You have that right.”
“But if you wish to stay here with me in the Alamo, we will sell our lives dearly.”
(A line is drawn in the dirt)
“I now want every man who is willing to fight and die for Texas to step across this line.”
We all know what happens to Col. Travis and the rest of the cowboys at the Alamo. It don’t end pretty. I wonder if I would have had the guts to step across that line. Supposedly, all the men did except one. They all knew what was going to happen. There was no doubt. But they all stayed there and gave everything that they had to fight for something that they believed in.
Over 180 cowboys gave their lives for something that they believed in. They believed that Texas should be free and they gave everything so that you and I could gather cattle in the very state that they died for. They lost that battle, but they sure enough won the war.
It can be said that the most famous verse in the Bible is found in John 3:16. Jesus himself says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.”
It makes me kind of sad that many people and some Christians can’t have that same type of loyalty and dedication to God as those cowboys did for Texas. There is a battle that is being fought right now. There is a war that is taking place and most people are oblivious to it. The war is over self.
Satan will have you believe that this world and it’s land and riches is what’s important. Satan will convince you that your feelings and your comfort are what really matters. He will try to talk you into the religion of Self.
The religion of Self is this:
Self Righteousness – I am a great person that’s never done anything real bad so that should be good enough for God.
Self Pity – If God really loved you, He wouldn’t allow bad things to happen and give you everything you want.
Self Reliance – If you’re gonna make it in this world you can’t depend on anyone but yourself.Self Indulgence – You deserve to have everything you want and you shouldn’t have to beg or waitfor the desires of your heart.It is against this that Jesus spoke of when He said, “If anyone wants to be my follower, he must deny himSelf, take up his cross, and follow me daily.” (Matthew 16:24) This is the speech where Jesus draws the line in the dirt. He is calling you to action to fight in this battle against self and for Him.
I wonder if we rewrote that famous speech by Col. Travis, would we have anyone step across the line and be willing to die for what they say they believe in? Would you still be standing there or would you cross the line?
“Jesus has been a second chance for me. I expect that might be true for many of you as well. He has been a chance not only for eternal life and peace and happiness, but also to be a different man. I hope a better one.”
“There have been many religions brought forth in the past few thousand years of what Christianity is and what it should become. But we are not all in agreement. But I’d like to ask each of you what it is you value so highly that you are so willing to fight and possibly die for. We will call him Jesus.”
“The devil hopes to lure us into a chance at escape. Almost anything seems better than staying in this place penned up. If, however, we force the enemy to attack, I believe everyone one of you will prove himself worth 10 in return. We will not only show the world what Christians are made of, but we will also deal a crippling blow to the army of Satan. If anyone of you wishes to depart under the white flag of surrender, you may do so now. God has given you that choice.”
“But if you wish to stay here with me and the Church, we will sell our lives dearly.”
(A line is drawn in the dirt)
“I now want every man who is willing to fight and die for Jesus to step across this line.”
We will not win this battle. The war will not be won until Revelation 19:11, 14 are fulfilled. “Then I saw a door open in Heaven, and a white horse appeared. Its rider was named “Faithful and True” –being One who in righteousness acts as Judge, and makes war……The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.”
Only those who have crossed the line will be able to be riding one of those white horses and follow Jesus into the last battle.
Won’t you come and ride with me?
Are You An Alamo Man?
In the 2004 version of The Alamo with Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thorton, there’s a scene when Col. Travis talks to his courageous men and gives them a choice of staying and fighting or leaving while they can: "I want to ask each of you, what it is you value so highly, that you are willing to fight and possibly die for?"
The brave men of the Alamo willingy fought and bled for Texas. The question for us today is: Are Christian men willing to lay down their lives for the Kingdom of God?
Detrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” He further wrote, “Self-denial is never just a series of isolated acts of mortification or asceticism. It is not suicide for there is an element of self-will even in that.To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only who goes before us and no more the road which is too hard for us.”
Kevin Weatherby, founder of Campfire Cowboy Ministries, takes off on this theme with “We Sell Our Lives Dearly”.
