“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” – Jim Elliot

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” – Jim Elliot

Jim Elliot penned this quote in 1949 and passionately lived his life with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in mind. A few years after writing this in his journal, he and four other missionaries flew to Ecuador to share the Gospel and they encountered an indigenous people called the Huaorani. They attempted to befriend them and began plans to share the Gospel with them. Unfortunately, their plans were foiled when a group of the Huaorani found Elliot and the four others and martyred them alongside a river stream.

A story like this, as tragic as it seems, could have ended there. God was honored and worshiped through their sacrificed lives. However, years later, the wives and children of the four martyred missionaries retraced the footsteps of their fallen family members only to continue what Elliot and the others had started. Through the continued evangelistic work and relationships that were established, many of the Huaorani came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Jim Elliot and the other missionaries lost their lives to gain something for the Kingdom which could not be lost – that is, the saved souls of the Huaorani. Are you willing to give up what you cannot keep in this life to gain what cannot be lost in eternity?

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” – Luke 9:23-24

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” – Matthew 6:19-20

Devo by David Chow. David is on staff at Grace on Campus.