Hernan Cortes scuttling his fleet off the Veracruz coastPhoto Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Hernan Cortes was a Spanish Conquistador who triumphed in conquering the Aztec Empire. In the year 1519, Hernan and his crew arrived in Veracruz. Upon arriving at the coast, he ordered his men to destroy their ship. He did this to eliminate any possibility of retreat and impress on the minds of his soldiers that there is no turning back.
The story of Hernan Cortes and his deliberate destruction of the ship teach us vital lessons today. These lessons are important if we really want to be successful in our Christian walk.
Jesus, Elijah, and Elisha
Jesus/Yeshua teaches us, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Everyone who has heard Christ at this time knew exactly what Christ is talking about. He was talking about Elisha.
Elijah was about to retire from his role as a prophet and God directed him to make Elisha as his successor. Elisha was a farmer and when Elijah found him, he took his mantle off and put it on Elisha. This is a symbolic act of being appointed as a prophet.
Without any hesitation, Elisha accepted the role given to him. To show Elijah his full commitment, he killed his oxen and boiled their flesh with his farming equipment. In a sense, he was burning or forsaking everything for God. In Elisha’s time, killing his oxen would mean dire economic consequences because it is his source of living. However, Elisha is ready to forsake a life of comfort just to follow God!
This is what Christ meant when he explained that a person who looks back to his former self or old carnal way of living after accepting His call would not be fit for the kingdom of God.
What does this mean to you?
As Christians, we need to realize that retreat or quitting is NEVER an option. When we accepted Christ’s calling, repented of our sins, baptized, laid hands upon, and received the Holy Spirit, we have just crossed the point of no return.
Once you made a commitment to God and Christ, it is vital to give 100% of your whole being. Not just 50%, 75%, or 90%, but 100%! We should not hold back anything from God. It is about giving all of ourselves to God.
The Apostle Paul urges us, “that [we] present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is [our] reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
So what’s holding you back from giving all to God? Let us remember that entrusting your life to God’s hands is the sweetest surrender we will ever make in this life.
