The Old testament called out to choose life[1]. Choose
life had been the call while the Israelites were under the law. The Israelites
were asked to choose life and follow the law. However the entire span of the
Biblical history is a testament to the failure of the law to deliver man from
the tendency to sin[2].
God’s recurrent lament is that all have gone
astray[3],
there is not one who seeks after him. All have each chosen their own way and
rebelled like adulterous wives.
Jesus came, split the heavens to offer hope and salvation in
the midst of this predicament that man finds himself in. The call however,
changes from choose life, to “choose death”. We are now called upon to die[4],
so that we might live. We choose to die to ourselves[5],
so that Christ can resurrect us and transform us, a spiritual work well beyond
the reach of human effort. Our part in the effort is to choose to die.
What does this mean? We have to realize that we carry around
in ourselves the death of Christ. What this does mean is that we choose others
over ourselves, choose God’s purposes first, and deliberately practice dying,
or living in the reality that we have surrendered all rights to ourselves. When
such a death happens, a harsh word or an unmet obligation or disappointed
expectation will allow us to pause prior to a response. We are dead aren’t we?
Then how can we react in anger, or in retaliation? God is the sole owner and
possessor of or souls, since He bought us with the blood of Jesus. So what
right do I have to rebel? Crucifixion becomes a daily ritual resulting in death
in us, but it is the portal to a new life in Him. Our wife is set free, our
children are liberated, and our families unshackled from my demands and charter
of law. Grace is allowed to enter, by that space that now is a spark gap for
mercy rather than for a conflagration. Love becomes a verb, by being allowed a
space to swirl in the limbo.
The aim and object is now transformation. Transformation
within ourselves and intercession for the transformation[6] of
all those whom we hold dear. In dying, truly, are we able to experience a
living. It is a daily choice, one that involves our hands being transfixed to a
cross, where we choose not to move, not to retaliate, not to raise up in anger
or self defence. We are helpless, harmless, vulnerably spread-eagled for all
those we hold dear. We are usually able to permit this only for those whom we
hold dear. Jesus permitted it for the whole world.
As the reality of our choice to die spreads through our
circle of influence, we are able to offer it to a widening audience, and grace
is allowed to flow to those beyond our horizons of filial recognition. A people
group, a nation, a tribe, a language, a country,…. the world.
Neither do we choose to die for pecuniary gain of some
eternal crown, though the crown is very much a promised treasure[7].
If treasure becomes the object, it soon decays and rots the sacrifice. Treasure
in heaven is best left in heaven, beyond our greedy grasp or lusting
licentiousness.
No wonder Dietriech Bonhoffer was able to write.. “When
Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die”. Carrying the cross is not carrying a burden,
or living with a fractious family member. Carrying the cross is always having
available and accessible the instrument of your own death.
