On Death
A major part of the Christian faith is baptism. It symbolizes death and new life. Most baptisms declare the two parts: death and life. Something to the effect of, “Raised to walk in a new way of life.” But there’s another part of baptism that we overlook,
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4-5
Oh yeah. That other part. Death.
So much of the Christian faith focuses on life, and that’s incredible! There is so much new life to be had in our faith. But most of the life that is grown within us is through a dying process.
Jesus, in the book of John, says it well,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, 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 maybe we expect the bad things to die—addiction, shame, anger, guilt. But, this isn’t that. This death is the death of the good things in us. That dream that you had to start that thing. And you know it’s from the Lord, planted in your heart. But if it doesn’t die, it’s just a dream. After the seed falls into the soil and dies, then it’s ready to “bear much fruit.”
“Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
So what’s the plan and how can we prepare? To expect death? To expect suffering? To expect death in unexpected places? To expect death not just in the areas of vice, but in the areas of virtue. And that’s the most troubling part. Death of good.
Today is a great day to trust the Lord in His process and plan for you through death. To trust the Lord that he is going to bring life out of death. And the order matters. The seed falls into the soil and dies. First death, then life.
Death is the plan. But it always has been.