Just A Thought

You’ve heard the expression, “ to die for.” It’s the name of several movies, several books, a CD, a band, and even a clothing line. Although the origin of this expression is not clear, when someone uses the expression they are sending a clear message that they highly value something. Obviously, most people who use the expression wouldn’t truly be willing to die for whatever it is they are talking about. In fact, I would venture to say, “there are very few things that people would be willing to die for.”
Is there is anyone or anything in your life that you value so highly that you would be ready to lay down your life? If so, I hope the person or cause is not trivial. Your life is all you have; it is too valuable to risk recklessly. Sadly, it is not uncommon for people to inadvertently give their life for something that is -- so not worth it. The Associated Press released such a story on February 9, 2011:
“ A Philadelphia Police Department Crime Scene Unit van pulls away from a Hampton Inn in Philadelphia. Police say they're investigating the death of a woman who had a cosmetic injection into her buttocks at the hotel….Detectives have not made a connection between the injection and her death, but, preliminary investigations are leaning toward that being a cause of death.”
The intention of this article is not to make light of this woman’s fate. However, the question must be asked, “Was it worth dying for?” We must assume that this woman did not expect to die, but we must also assume that the procedure was neither essential nor medically conventional.
This whole scene is not far removed from the spiritual condition many of us have experienced at some time in our lives. While searching for meaning, love, acceptance or excitement most of us have found ourselves involved in back room deals, bad relationships, or unsafe environments in which our spiritual and physical lives have been in real danger. Unfortunately, we sometimes come close to dying for things that are so not worth it.
Jesus had a philosophy that, if employed, will save us from such a fate. When talking about material things, he said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33 NLT) It may sound backwards, but you might be surprised at how well this tactic works.
The idea is that God’s Kingdom is worth dying for, so a believer fully commits their life to that cause. The result is a double-whammy blessing. Spirit-filled believers not only secure eternal life, but they also enjoy an abundant life here and now. That is not to say they will have an easy life, or even a fair life, but, with the help of God’s Spirit living in them, they can have an abundant life as well as a higher purpose for living. In short, the Christian life is to die for.

Let’s review. In a demonstration of victory and supreme authority Jesus had just been rejected by his own and slaughtered at Calvary only to rise from the dead (as both He and Scripture had predicted) and ascend into the clouds, in the presence of over 500 witnesses. In obedience to His instructions 120 believers (including the disciples and Mary, the mother of Jesus) had gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem and were praying for the power that Jesus had promised. The power came and the “aftermath of Easter” drew the attention of thousands who were in town for the feast of Pentecost. They had heard the noise and rushed to the scene where Peter and his cohorts were worshipping God like drunken men and asked, “What meaneth this?”
Peter proceeded to explain to them that they had mistakenly called for the death of Jesus, who was the very God of the universe who had robed Himself in flesh to dwell among them. He told them of Jesus’ resurrection and told them that they were witnessing the fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s prophecies. (see Joel 2:28, 29) He wanted them to understand that Jesus did not die in vain… that the resurrection was not just a neat trick… that Jesus did not go back to heaven as an act of abandonment. Rather, Jesus overcame death and hell and ascended into heaven so that he could return to live in the hearts of people who would commit their lives to Him. (see John 14:15-20)
When the congregation asked Peter what they should do, he clearly and succinctly told them how they could be saved. Before you read his words, it is important to notice that all the disciples stood up with Peter when he told these people how to be saved. In other words, the entire leadership of the First Century Church was in agreement with these instructions:
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:37-39 KJV)

What was the result of this sermon? About 3,000 people were baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost, thereby launching the Christian church. The aftermath of Calvary and the first Easter was dramatically changed lives. We are still in the aftermath; people are still being baptized in Jesus name and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in “other tongues.”

What horrors have been spawned in this world by men’s pursuit of prominence! It is staggering, for instance, to realize that in the last century 262,000,000 people died at the hands of governments and dictators, throughout the world. This, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg; many other injustices and sufferings have been imposed on people throughout history. In pondering these tragedies you may have noticed that a common denominator of war, greed, domination, rape, murder, thievery, abuse, slander and many other destructive forces is the struggle for superiority.

While attempting to navigate life, more than one person has echoed the query of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?” Is it possible that with one fell swoop we could exterminate all the evils cited above and get along? I think so. Just as bathing and sewer systems prevent thousands of diseases, infections and infestations, embracing one simple concept would solve a multitude of grievous problems. The concept: make God King.

When God is lifted up and respected to the extent that His rules are obeyed, then families, communities and nations prosper. When men make Him Lord, there is no need to destroy others in a personal quest for superiority. Pride and the desire to be exalted was Lucifer’s problem. That’s how we got the Devil. He disqualified himself from being a part of God’s kingdom by desiring to be equal with God. The cure is for mankind to recognize the King of Kings for who He is. One day His Kingdom will be forcibly established, but today you and I have the opportunity to voluntarily choose Him for our King and enjoy living life as God designed it to be lived.

Comments on the both the dangers of superiority and the need for God’s kingship are preserved for posterity in the Massachusetts statehouse.

• “I believe there is no one Principle, which predominates in human Nature so much…..as this Passion for Superiority…Every human Being compares itself in its own Imagination, with every other round about it, and will find some Superiority over every other…..” (John Adams)
• “For the Lord is our Defence and the holy one of Israel is our king.” (on a picture in the hall of flags)
Maybe instead of competing to dominate our fellow man we should explore the path of love and humility. There is one King and His instructions were that we should love one another… prefer one another… forgive one another. A good way to start would be to read the following scriptures out-loud:
• Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17 KJV)
• …he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14 KJV)
Our worlds’ only hope is for mankind to humbly abdicate the throne and truly make God our King. Or, we could go a step further and take the advice of Golda Meir who said, “Don't be humble; you're not that great.” If all of us would make God our King, most of the worlds’ problems would be solved.