How to Die
I have a question for all of you today. Do you know how to die? I'm not talking about taking your last breath, or suicide. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking abut dying to yourself, your desires, your wants and needs. Two thousand years ago, mankind was shown the greatest example of how to die, to truly die. That example was Jesus up there on the cross. As he hung up there and took his last breath, only one thing held him there. Not the nails. Not the soldiers or the pharisees or the people. Not the laws of the land. No. What held him on that cross was love. Love so pure, so vast, so huge, so undeserved. When Jesus gave up his life for us, it wasn't because we deserved it. We never did and we never will. Every day we deny him. Many times every day. Every sin, every little thing we do that's wrong, it all says that we don't want him in our lives. That we don't care about him. But Jesus cared anyway. He put everything else aside. Everything. And put us first. He loved everyone else above himself. The people that deserved it least, he loved most. And he tells his people, the Christians, to do the same. Love, he says. Love your neighbors as yourself. The greatest is love.
But this world is so full of hurt. Why? Because the people don't know love. Why? Because what they think is love, isn't. They think that if they do this for themselves, buy that for themselves, read this, listen to that, do this, do that, all for themselves, that it will take away the pain, the sadness, the anger, the guilt, the this and that that keeps them from enjoying life. They need someone to show them that to be happy, it's not about themselves, it's about others. But they don't have anyone to teach them, because the ones who should know that most, don't. As Christians, we should already know that. As God's people, we should be showing the world that happiness isn't about ourselves, it's about dying. Dying to greed and hate and anger and ourselves, so we can live for others. How many of you out there have gone out of your way to do a simple act of kindness for someone, anyone, even if it was a complete stranger? How did you feel, knowing you made that person's day even a tiny bit brighter? You probably had a smile a mile wide. So why is it we, as Christians, are so wrapped up in our own little world? In our own problems and frustrations and wants and needs? When all around us are hurting people. People who need a light in the darkness of everyday life. People going through things that we know nothing about? We as Christians have become complacent and forgotten our calling of love. If we truly want the world to be a better place, we gotta work for it. We have to pull our heads out of our own lives and look around. We have to ask ourselves what we can do for others, instead of asking what others can do for us.
Because how much nicer would this world be if every person did one kind thing for one person once every day? How much better a place to live would our country be if people started reaching out? If we would take the time to reach out to others, and show them that someone, somewhere out there cares, then maybe things wouldn't be so bad. Maybe that kid with scars on his arms would realize that there's a better way to handle the pain. Maybe that guy with the rope around his neck will pull it off and walk away. Maybe that person suffering from depression will realize that there is happiness to be found. Maybe that girl will put down the pills she was gonna take to end everything. Maybe the man sitting next to you in the doctor's office will throw away the beer bottles. Maybe the person with the gun to their head will put it down, walk away, and never look back. Maybe, just maybe, if we would stop messing around worrying about our own lives and HELP PEOPLE, maybe, MAYBE there would be a lot less pain, a lot less crime, poverty, starvation, death. Maybe there would be a lot less blackness in the world.
We are God's people! We have hope! Why aren't we sharing that hope with others? Why aren't we living our faith? Why do we speak it, but never let it show? If we would just stop what we are doing for just one moment, look around, and think, who can I help? and then ACT on it, people would notice! The hurting wouldn't hurt so bad! Those who are crying would smile! Those who are angry would become happy! Hurting people would feel better! People who can no longer find any reason to live would be shown that there IS a reason! If we would just follow Jesus, then maybe, just maybe, His people wouldn't be called hypocrites! And people would see there IS a light in this world!
It's time that we step up to the plate! We can't just stand by and watch the generations die without hope. We need to act! We need to help people! We need to do it anyway! No matter if you're scared or busy or this or that! There are no exceptions! If God's people would step up to the plate, if they would live their lives the way Jesus did, live their lives for others, then maybe that nobody in your gym class would put down the knife that they were going to use to end it! Maybe that person with the ski mask and sack would take it off and walk away from that store. Maybe that young pregnant girl would walk away from that abortion clinic. Maybe the father of her baby will come back to help her. Maybe less families would be torn apart. And maybe there would be less wars. But only if we act! Only if we follow in Jesus footsteps! Only if God's people stand up and say, "Let me help you instead of me."
When we come together in love, and we all act in love, then we will be unstoppable, and our love will grow! And when our love grows, it will displace the hate! And it will continue to grow! And someday, it may grow so much that it will cover the world! But ONLY IF WE DO SOMETHING! ONLY IF WE LOVE! It's time for us to step up! If it only takes one person to make a difference, then what could fifty do? A hundred? How about a million? I'm calling you out. I'm calling you to a higher cause. We need to learn how to die, so we can truly live!
Created about 2 years ago
