“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:10-11 NLT)
If you’re a Jesus follower your life was purchased by the death of God’s Son, but the only avenue of true, lasting, and meaningful life in Jesus is through death to ourselves, to our sinful nature. While it seems paradoxical, it’s completely true. Another irony of the Christan Faith is, while our eternal life begins the moment we receive Christ by faith, the fullness of that life doesn’t come about until we die (or until the Lord returns).
Isn’t it almost comical that the Lord took the very thing we most fear – death – and turned it into the only avenue of true life? Anyone who doesn’t believe the Lord has a sense of humor hasn’t read the Bible. Think of Peter, the Lord’s choice to be the “Rock” of His new Church, but Peter crumbles at the first sight of danger when the Lord is arrested and runs with all the rest. “I will die for you!” becomes, “get out of my way!”
A. W. Tozer grasps the paradox when he writes: “Jesus Christ our Lord surrendered in order that He might win; He destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.” Might we gain insight into how to order our own lives as we view our Savior’s life as a model?
Think about it! How did Jesus surrender? He willingly laid down His life in our place. We belonged on that Cross, but the sinless Lamb of God took our place, but why? That we might become His hands, feet, and voice in a world that not only doesn’t know Him but also doesn’t understand their desperate need of Him. We’re His chosen “mouthpiece” to get the word out! How will they hear unless someone tells them? Could that “someone” be you?
What might that entail? Dying to self. Surrendering our will for God’s will. Choosing His hard way over our easy way. Picking up our cross daily and following Him. We have it so easy in America anything the least bit “stressful” freaks us out. “Speak with someone about Jesus? That sounds hard. I could never do that!”
And here’s the irony. No one cares. You won’t get arrested, tortured, or killed for your faith. The absolute worst thing that might happen is you could get your feelings hurt. “Oh, boo hoo!” When will we grow up! Jesus’ love for His Father and for us – YOU and me, cost Him His life. Following Him might cost us an hour or so on Sunday to attend church and a few minutes a week to read the Bible and say a few prayers.
Jesus “destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.” How do we die for those who need Jesus? By “dying” to ourselves. By making the decision to invest time in learning how to effectively share our faith; by learning how to study the Bible with intent to learn how to live a holy, changed life; by investing hours instead of minutes in prayer.
And please don’t misunderstand, I don’t spend hours a day on my knees, but I do spend hours throughout my day in conversation with my Savior, and so can you, if you allow the Spirit to put to death your old self.
It’s a paradox: spiritual life can only be born through death to selfishness.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 