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Dying to live Dying to liveWe misuse the term 'to die for someting' all too often! -- 'I'm dying for an ice cream' or 'I'm dying to change into more comfortable clothes' ... . What we are really wanting to say is that if I can get around to [whatever], I'll feel more refreshed or less constrained, etc. Some Christians have taught me to understand that Jesus, our Saviour, was 'born to die'. His purpose here on earth among us as a human being was to take away our sins through his death on the cross -- and then to return to be with God the heavenly Father -- Our purpose here on earth is to obey and serve Jesus -- and also to enjoy our life with God. -- Dying; real dying, is usually far from our minds! Dying occurs all around us, but we believe God gives us time to carry out the tasks He has given us to do -- and many Christians believe, God will not make that time too short when we lead a faithful life. -- This, of course, can be debated. Many innocent children die. Many faithful disciples die to car accidents, wars & in other sad ways. While we usually think about Jesus' suffering and death at this time of year (called Lent) -- we don't always think that Jesus had to die to live again in eternity with the Father. We also sometimes forget that through the death of Jesus we can receive that eternal life although our bodies are eventually laid into the ground. -- Do we ever think that God is watching to see whether we also try to live so that every day could be our last;so that what we said and did today might be the best testimony to our life on earth? Some beautiful stories about dying are told at funerals, to encourage the survivors of the deceased to face death with courage. One such story is about a little leaf, hanging on for dear life in the fall as the cold winds twist it and pull at it, to make it let go and fall to the ground to die. The little leaf is afraid. But a nearby leaf speaks courage to it. If it lets go it can add to the blanket of leaves protecting and warming the ground below, so new life can spring forth after the winter snows recede. Finally, the little leaf let go. It lands softly on the blanket of leaves spread out below it. It is no longer alone as it was on that almost bear tree. It is in the company of those it loves -- and it is caring for the new life that will soon spring forth from the earth again -- among which there will also be a few new saplings -- future trees -- helped by this sacrifice of the leaves of the old tree ... Jesus died so we can live too. Are we willing to give our lives to God -- even as we live -- dying to our own desires and living for God alone (as above)? Think about it. Pray to God about the purpose of your life. Ask God to help you see it as clearly as God sees it. Amen
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