“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:24-25
The other day I was at a shopping center with two squadmates and we had split up a bit so I could look for some pants. When I met back up with them they told me that a Hindi woman had bought them some earings. This younger woman was a complete stranger and she had done something very generous for them. Now I don’t know much about Hinduism, but this act was very selfless. (Although later she asked for something in return “to remember them by.”)
Most Indians are Hindu and live following many different gods. I heard from a Christian pastor here the there are millions of Gods. Is it good Karma to buy something for someone? I don’t know but it seems that doing good will help you out in your next life if you are Hindu.
What Jesus teaches is a lot different. We are called to give to the poor, the fatherless, and the widows, but these are all tertiary to one main point. We need to die to live. You see, we live in a very consumer driven society in America that prizes wealth and power as things that should be obtained and the degree to which you have these the better off you are and the more you have “arrived”.
We may find these things to a certain extent, but often we are still empty. We still want more. Why? Why are we never satisfied? Is what we are looking for in these not what we need?
These questions are all an introduction to what I want to share. This year, this “world race” is basically about dying. This process of dying to the old self has two effects. First we are able to find our new life in Christ and find our vision for our life through it all. We have found that living for God far outways living the consumer lifestyle in America. This is a hard process though because bad habits die hard. We are still in this process and every day we have to die again it seems in some small way.
Take George W Bush for example. He is a man who has deep convictions and whether you hate him or love him, you have to admit he is a strong leader. You see he has already been through the fire. He has died. Some candidates and presidents have said what seems popular to be elected and stay in office, but George W does what he thinks is right. That is why so many people hate him. They don’t like what he does. So why is George W the way he is and do things that make so many people and politicians mad?
Years and years ago he had a drinking problem. It may have started off simple enough but as time went on it started to affect him and his family. It got so bad that his wife told him that he had to change or else. He died then, but not in the physical. He had to do the very hard work of killing that addiction. That is why I believe he is so strong today. He has gone through the fire and come out a new man with a better understanding of who he is.
The process of dying also has a second effect: you are no longer afraid of death. Consider Martin Luther King Jr. He knew who he was and knew that his ideas were so revolutionary that it WOULD get him killed. But he had determination. His life work was laid out before him and he was chipping away at it, damn the consequences. Do you have that kind of determination? Are you ready for anything? Are you living an abundant life or are you just getting by? Do you have a job that you love or are you just making enough money to pay the bills? Are you fulfilled or are you fixed on a financial or material goal that will finally fulfill you? It won’t.
My old church has a slogan, “Change and become…” I think a better one would be “Die and become…” The prosperity gospel is really no gospel at all. There has to be a death to the old self to find the new life that is in Christ.
Have you made that step?
Are you living an abundant life?
