Born to Die -

How many have heard the story of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ? Most people have heard it many, many times, but this is a story that must become alive in our hearts. If it does not, the story is belittled to mere historical facts or worst yet a fairytale.

The prophet Isaiah foretold both Jesus' birth and His death. Isaiah 9:16 "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; …and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 53: 8-9 "By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief…"

Jesus was born to die. You might be saying that you know that, but if you are a believer or disciple of Jesus Christ, did you know that you were also born to die? Now I'm not speaking of a "physical" death. Think about this, if you've heard the story of Jesus, you know that He was a sacrificial lamb - right? Well, as it is written, He (Jesus) took the punishment that you and I deserved. But what must I do in response to what He has done? What must one do to inherit eternal life? Jesus says, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Mark 8:34).

What did Jesus mean about us taking up our cross? Many simplify it by saying it represents the suffering in this life - trials, tribulation and persecution. But the Word (bible) tells us that both believers and unbelievers will have trouble in this world. If we take up our cross, following after Jesus, where are we going? At the time of crucifixions, one would carry the cross to where? That's right, to the place of death. You see, we pick up the cross agreeing to die. Oh, I'm not talking about in the physical. We all know that these mortal bodies are going to waste away. But God wants us to die to ourselves, to deny our own plans, our own selfish ambitions and to leave it all to follow Him.

In the gospel of Matthew verses 10:38-39, Jesus says, "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it."

Consequently, we were born to die. Born to die in order that Christ might be resurrected in us. He then lives in us drawing others unto Himself. Not us doing the drawing, but Him in us doing the drawing. For the Word of God says "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him;..." (John 6:44). This is the basics of Christianity.