2 Timothy 4:10 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.”
Every January since the passage of Roe v. Wade in 1973, pro-lifers have traveled to Washington, DC to march against the legalization of abortion. They come from across the country—young, old, Catholics, Protestants, black, brown, white, all crying out for the rights of unborn babies. They do what they can do peacefully to make the smallest and weakest voices of humankind be heard. You can’t help but stand amazed at their unequivocal dedication, year after year after year. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a more persevering group of people. Those pro-lifers are all in.
At the college where I teach, a quote from 19th century missionary William Borden graces the chapel wall. It says, “No reserves, no retreat, no regrets.” Borden grew up in a wealthy family, graduating from both Yale and Princeton. He wrote the words, “no reserves” in the back of his Bible after announcing he would give up his inheritance and go to China as a missionary. When others scoffed at him for turning down lucrative positions, he added the words, “no retreat.”
He set sail for China when he was 25 years old, stopping in Egypt to study Arabic. While there he contracted spinal meningitis and died. Many viewed his untimely death as a waste, but as he lay dying, Borden penned these last two words in his Bible: no regrets. William Borden was all in.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy from his prison cell, he believed his death was imminent. In his last letter, he encourages Timothy to keep fighting the good fight, endure hardship and preach the Gospel. Paul’s life was being poured out in a dank, lonely jail, but he voiced no doubts about his life of total abandonment to Jesus. He urges Timothy to do the same. Paul was all in.
I’m not sure there is any other way to be “in” for Jesus than “all.” Authentic Christianity is “all in Christianity.” It’s radical. No Plan B exists for Christians who are all in. They have their sights set on something far greater than man’s temporary approval and applause. They know the One who gave His all for them is worth it. Worth it all.
How about you? Can you say you’re all in?