Sometimes I think we are too smart for our own good. Remember the story of Abraham and Isaac? God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. What if Abraham went up to the mountain saying, “I know God’s going to stop me from sacrificing him, but I’ll just go through the motions so he will bless me”? Do you think Abraham could expect God's blessing? Of course not! God doesn't like people calling His bluff.
How many times have I even said, "Lord, I will die, if I have to. I will face destitution, if I have to." And yet in the back of my mind I think, "The Lord won't really ask that of me, but I know he will bless my surrender." Maybe you've said the same things, and both of us are still waiting for the "blessing" that hasn't come yet. I don't think God will bless our calling His bluff.
John G. Lake would often say in his messages, "Die if you have to, but don't dishonor the Lord!" And die they did. In one year's time, the missionaries J.G. Lake provided oversight for in South Africa had over 100 people die (men, women, and children). With the few remaining, they saw a tremendous work of God. How? It has often been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
I found this cute little verse yesterday in Romans 8:35-36, "Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep” (NLT). Paul uses the word "if", but I don't think it is hypothetical - as if it never really happens. Look at the verse he quotes following, "...we are killed every day..." No, this is for real. If you follow Christ, you might just go hungry, end up destitute, or even die. This will become even more of a reality for the U.S. as events unfold.
God is not bluffing. And He doesn't like it when we try to call His bluff. He might just turn around and call our bluff. We say, "Lord, I would die for You. I would be destitute for You." And He will say, "Really? Let's try it."