Life from Death

 The greatest event in the history of mankind is the resurrected life of Jesus given to man from the death of Jesus.  The question is do we believe this and do we understand that this amazing power is still active today.  

The perfect plan and awesome power of God is manifested in His transforming death in the flesh to give His eternal life to us.  In Luke 9:23-24, Jesus proclaimed this principle, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily (to die on), and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake with save it."  We are called on to believe in His death and resurrection, not just as a Jesus spectator, but as one who follows Jesus through believing faith that this principle also works in us.  God does not change and His Word is everlasting.

 "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain," according to Jesus. (John 12:24)   Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:9-11, likewise states that we are "always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh."  Most of us desire with all our hearts (at least I do!) that Jesus' life and power would be openly shown in and through me, but how do we allow this to happen?  Jackie Pullinger, missionary to drug addicts, prostitutes, and gang members in the walled city of Hong Kong, captures the answer with this phrase: "The Gospel always gives life to the receiver and death to the giver."  There is a cost.

  Jesus says to count the cost. Paul adds depth to this statement by sharing the horrendous cost that he paid through beatings, shipwreck, persecutions, and even death, as "light sufferings" not worthy to be compared to the "eternal weight of glory that is to be revealed in us."  However, more important and more compelling than the reward is the truth that Jesus, the Lamb of God, who gave His life for us is worthy of all we have to give.  If He willingly paid the ultimate price for all our sins, doesn't He deserve our willingness to give what and who we are?  God loves a cheerful giver.

 We must look in the mirror of God's Word to compare our life here on earth to eternity. "For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (James 4:14)  How does a drop of water compare to a vast Pacific Ocean of water?  In short, no amount of time compares to being alive forever and ever.  Live your life from an eternal perspective.  

Therefore, in the words of Jim Elliot, missionary speared to death trying to give the Gospel to the Auca Indians in Ecuador, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."  Let's ask the Holy Spirit to help us "to will and to work for His good pleasure," by believing and applying this truth, life from death, by laying down our lives and making whatever sacrifice is necessary to share the message of Jesus. Worthy is the Lamb to receive the reward for which He died. Jesus is worthy of it all.