To Die is Gain

I think it is the hardest principle in Christianity for believers to grasp, let alone embrace. It is so ... foreign. "It can't mean what it says." It is counterintuitive and contrary to everything basic to human nature. What is this principle? Jesus put it this way. "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). What does it mean to take up a cross? That's death. In order to follow Christ, we have to deny self and die. Well, now, that makes perfect sense, doesn't it? No, not really. At least not at first.

Most of us approach the Christian faith from the opposite view. We want to follow Christ because in Him we gain the most. We like those verses that say, "God loved the world so much ..." (although that's not what it says). We like all the references to "abundant life" and joy and prospering and all that. Good stuff. So Jesus's "take up your cross" line collides with our basic drive function -- self. Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24). And we say, "No ... thank you."

It's all over the Scriptures. "I am crucified with Christ" (Gal 2:20). "You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). "We know that our old self was crucified with Him" (Rom 6:6). "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there" (Gal 5:24). "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desire" (Eph 4:22). "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship" (Rom 12:1). "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35). And so much more. Get the idea? Fundamental to following Christ is the basic concept of dying to self. And we, the wise, say, "No thanks. I'm good." And we're not.

The most basic command of Scripture is love -- love God; love your neighbor (Mark 12:29-31). Here's the thing about love, biblical style. It is completely selfless. It is not about self. It is outward focused. And the primary goal of the entire Christian life is to do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). Everything. So here we are, living in this world, seeking to please God. Our underlying motive is to glorify God in all we do and all we do is aimed at loving God and others. Somehow, we don't really figure in any of this, do we? We are not the point, are we? So we are crucified with Christ. Oh, don't worry. We still live. But that life is "Christ in me" and the life that we now live is by faith in the Son of God (Gal 2:20). And, again, counterintuitively, it all works out for our very best. Which, I suppose, is why Paul said, "I die daily" (1 Cor 15:31). I would suspect that would be a good goal for all who believe.