Born to Die A reflection on the Cross at Christmastime by Dee Dee Smith Over the next few weeks we will all see images and symbols of the Christmas season. Weve heard the story many times. Christmas plays, cantatas, carols and the like all tell the story of His (Jesus) miraculous birth. This is a story that must become alive in our hearts. If it does not, the story is belittled to mere historical facts. The prophet Isaiah foretold both Jesus birth and His death. Isaiah 9:16 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 53: 8-9 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief. Jesus was born to die. I can hear some of you saying now, everybody knows He was born to die. But did you know that you and I were also born to die? Some of you might say, Yes, I knew that too, everyone is going to die. But Im not speaking of the death that you are thinking of. Jesus was a sacrificial lamb - right? He took the punishment that you and I deserved. But what does Jesus say that we must do to inherit eternal life? He says, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Mark 8:34). What did Jesus mean about us taking up our cross? Many simplify it by saying it represents the suffering in this life--trials, tribulation and persecution. But the Word tells us that both believers and unbelievers will have trouble in this world. If we take up our cross, following after Jesus, where are we going? At the time of crucifixions, one would carry the cross to where? Thats right, to the place of death. You see we pick up the cross agreeing to die. Oh, Im not talking about in the physical. We all know that these mortal bodies are going to waste away. But God wants us to die to ourselves, to deny our own plans, our own selfish ambitions and to leave it all to follow Him. In the gospel of Matthew verses 10:38-39, Jesus says, And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it. Mark also gives an account of Jesus saying this in verse 8:35, For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospels shall save it. Consequently, we were born to die. We were born to die in order that Christ might be resurrected in us. He then lives in us drawing others unto Himself. Not us doing the drawing, but Him in us doing the drawing. So what do you want for Christmas this year? Whats on your list? Is it a new stove and refrigerator, a diamond necklace, a husband or wife, perhaps its simply to see your children for Christmas? All these things are fine but if we are dying, and Christ is rising in us, then we should want what Jesus would want. Think about it, what would Jesus want for Christmas? Better yet, what does Jesus want from you this Christmas? What part of your life or what desire has God been asking you to put to death? What sacrifice is he asking you to make for the sake of the gospel? Only you can answer that question but I know that God is speaking to someone. Martin Luther King, Jr. said something like this Life is not worth living until you find something worth dying for. Many of you have spent your whole life looking for purpose, looking for something that you are so passionate about it that youd be willing to die for it. Here it is. Here is the secret to life. You were born to die in order that Christ might live in you and that through you His light might be seen. Its so simple that we seek all of our lives looking for something else. The Lord is saying - You will not be happy, you will not find peace and contentment until you truly commit to taking up your cross and following Jesus. Throw away the New Years resolutions for 2014, throw away your five and ten year plans and let God rewrite the vision for your life. In His will youll find happiness and contentment forever more. You were born to die.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:09:00 +0000
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