Radio Transcript

Death Before Life

Broadcast Date – March 17^th, 2002 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

Quite often the question is asked, "Is there really life after death?" Oh yes friends, most definitely. A person’s physical death does not mark the end of his existence. When the judgment day comes, the majority of people who have ever lived will be sentenced to eternal death, not annihilation but rather an eternal separation from God. Others will receive eternal life, that is, they will be united with God for all eternity.

But friends, whenever we think of life after death we ought to remember that, in regards to eternal life, there must be death before life. Consider Jesus’ words from Luke 9:23-26, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."

In order to understand Jesus’ words, we must understand the purpose of the cross. In Jesus’ day, the cross was intended to put men to death. It was on a cross that men died through painful crucifixion. Next, consider whose cross we are to take up, or carry, our own! You can’t take up my cross for me and I can’t take up your cross for you. Next, how often did Jesus say we are to take up our cross? Daily! Putting all of this together, we are able to understand Jesus to say that anyone who follows him must die daily.

First, in order to follow Jesus, a person must die to self. As Christians, our old man of sin is put to death. In Galatians 2:20, Paul wrote, "I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." As Christians, we are to submit to the authority of Christ. Jesus said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20). A Christian is to be a living sacrifice to God. Paul wrote, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).

As Christians, we are to put God’s will ahead of our will. We are to put Christ’s desire for us ahead of our own desires. Consider the following word from I Corinthians 5:15, "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

Friends, imagine two circles. The first one represents a person’s life before he becomes a Christian. The word self is written at the center of this circle. When a person is not a Christian, his life revolves around self. The second circle represents a person’s life after he becomes a Christian. The word "Christ" is written in the center of this circle. When a person becomes a Christian, his life revolves around Christ. He has died to self and lives for Christ.

Second, in order to follow Christ, a person must die to security. That is, he must die to the type of security that the world has to offer. Many people seek out security in the things they own. "Oh, if I can ever get enough money in my retirement account, then I will be secure." "If I can ever have enough money to buy the house I want, drive the car I want, and wear the clothes I want, then I will feel secure." But friends, a person with such an attitude is looking for security in places where it simply cannot be found. Jesus said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

The love of money is the root of all evil. Consider the following words from Paul, written to Timothy, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (I Timothy 6:6-11).

As Christians, we are to be content with what we have. The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5).

As Christians, we are to realize that material goods are temporary in nature and simply will not last. Consider the following, "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days" (James 5:1-3).

A man was seriously ill and realized he did not have much longer to live. He asked his wife to take his money and place it in the attic so, when he died, he could get it in his way up to heaven. His wife did so. But after her husband died, she found the money, untouched and still in the attic, just as she had left it. Not being too surprised, she commented, "I knew I should have left it in the basement." Friends, the illustration makes a very serious point. There is no place in heaven for those persons who trust in material goods while on earth.

Third, in order to follow Christ a person must die to shame. That is, a person who is following Christ is not ashamed to do so. He is not ashamed of Christ. Jesus said, "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26).

A person who is following Christ is no longer ashamed to tell others about Christ. In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Consider the following, written from Paul to Timothy, "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:" (II Timothy 2:12).

A person who is following Christ is not ashamed to teach the gospel of Christ to others. Paul wrote, "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:14-16).

Fourth, in order to follow Christ, a person must die to sin. Friends, just as death always involves a separation, death to sin requires that we separate ourselves from the practice of sin. Consider these words, written by Paul to the church at Rome, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein" (Romans 6:1-2)? Further in the same chapter Paul writes, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:6-18).

To the church at Colosse Paul wrote, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" (Colossians 3:1-10).

Friends, is there really life after death? Oh yes, there most certainly is! But remember, there must also be death before life. In order for a person to experience eternal life, he must die to self, die to the security of the world, die to shame, and die to the practice of sin.

Rod Halliburton