Be All You Can Be

Have you ever noticed that some of the greatest adverting themes were plagiarized from God? Those iconic ad campaigns could just as easily be used by Jesus. You don’t have to dig too hard or far to see that this is true.

            Nike: “Just do It”
            United States Marines: “Looking for a Few Good Men”

Coca-Cola has a list of themes for their ads through its history listed on line. (https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/coke-lore-slogans) So many of these could be used as spiritual themes.

            1924 – Refresh Yourself
            1927 - Pure as Sunlight
            1929 – The Pause That Refreshes
            1942 – The Only Thing Like Coca-Cola Is Coca-Cola
            1952 – What You Want Is a Coke
            1963 – Things Go Better with Coke
            1976 – Coke Adds Life
            1988 – You Can’t Beat the Feeling
            1990 – You Can’t Beat the Real Thing

You get the picture. Replace the product name with Jesus’ name and there you have it!

But I think one that Jesus would use and may have in a different form was cooped by the US Army: “Be All You Can Be.” Isn’t that really the message Jesus has for all of us? Isn’t that the reason for his coming to earth in human form to help us become all that God made us to be? It is very tough to call yourself a Christian and tell Jesus, “I only want to be part of what God wants me to be.” Jesus doesn’t want or need anyone to hold back anything. When Jesus says this to us, he is calling us to go deeper with him. Go longer with him, knowing if we can (and will) be all we can be, it is the best that God wants and has for us. This call is a call to a form of discipleship and commitment that holds nothing back, leaves nothing on the table.

            I love watching poker tournaments, especially when someone goes “all in.” This is when they risk everything they have, their whole bankroll, believing – trusting – that the cards in their hand are far superior to their opponent’s hand. Watching the players sweat it out, pacing, hoping, praying that the other player doesn’t draw the necessary cards for a “bad beat” is the highest form of excitement and drama for such events.

            It is infinitely different when we go “all in” for Jesus. There are no “bad beats,” no depleting all of our resources. When we decide to let Jesus make us all we can be, all God wants us to be, it is a journey that is highlighted too by prayer and hope. But, that is based on the character and nature of God to whom we put all our hope and trust in.

            Jesus Christ will not settle for us to become anything less than our very best in him. To call ourselves followers of Jesus – disciples of his – requires us to strive for that, to commit all of our time, talent and treasure to him. When Jesus issues the call to be all we can be, he is simultaneously bidding each of us to be part of a fellowship – a church – that will challenge us and help us to grow. We need to be part of a church that has as its highest priority to facilitate our growth and development as fully formed followers of Jesus Christ. If we are stagnant, stuck in the same spot, the same position, at the same level, in our spiritual journey as we were yesterday or last week or last year, we are not spending our energies on the right endeavors. We are either not taking advantage of the opportunities available to us or we are not part of a body that has this as part of its mission and ministry. If a church does not help a believer to strive to be all they can be in Christ, are they really a church in the first place?

            Mottos have their place. Advertisements cause us to spend money on products due to their message that is contained therein. They can inspire us and challenge us. They can spur us to action. And, in regards to wanting to be all you can be in Christ and moving in that direction, I offer you another famous tag line. It is from an Alka-Seltzer ad: “Try it, you’ll like it!”