Death...It is an ugly word to many of us. Multitudes have felt its sting, its pain, its loss. It is a word that we tend to avoid like the plague.
But Jesus didn’t avoid it. In the Gospel of John the word is repeated time and again.
How could he be so comfortable and content with the word? Why does the it come up in the majority of His conversations?
The answer: Because death is a prerequisite of life. One must die in order to live.
The Christian’s life is a constant dying...death to self. In fact...Paul writes to “die daily.”
In 2 Corinthians he further explains - “For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifest in our mortal flesh.”
So we die that Christ may life...”I have been crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live. Jesus Christ now lives in me!”
And when Christ is alive in the heart, He binds us tightly to the vine that His life giving sap may flow through our dead self, giving life and joy to the body.
Not only life, but fruit...
“unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
Much fruit...
The Christian’s life is centered in death...a word we tend to avoid, but one which Christ embraces...For death brings...Life, and life more abundantly;
Friends...let us put off our fear of “death” and instead wholeheartedly embrace it. Knowing that “Thy Jesus can repay, from His Own fullness all He takes away...”
We have nothing to lose and all to gain...Christ in you the hope of glory is worth dying for my friends...no matter what you have to lose.
I promise.
