Is there anything you would die for? I’ve been wondering a lot about that question. Back in the day, lives were threatened far more often and people had a chance to answer that question for themselves. Fatal wars were frequently fought and punishments would be routinely inflicted. People lived shorter life spans and chaos was more prominent than control. Things are different now. Modern America has become a society of complacency and comfort. Being a “Christian” now means something very different than what it used to. Anyone can say that they love God and are a Christian. But is there any substance behind that claim? So many people are Christian in name only. How many people actually mean it? Do you really mean it when you say it? Do I?
Committing your life to Jesus meant something very different back then. We say it now as more of a, “Yeah I’ve given my life to Jesus. Jesus loves me; of course I'm a Christian! ” Back then, it was a dangerous decision. It was more like, “Yeah I’ve given my life to Jesus. I know I might have to die for Him, and I am willing.” I really truly wonder what our convictions would have been back then. Are you willing to give your life for your faith? Am I willing to?
If a Roman guard was about to arrest you and take you to the coliseum to be torn apart by lions as public entertainment, would you be able to march bravely to your demise? If you lived in Nazi Germany, do you truly think you would risk the fate of concentration camps and gas chambers to stand up in resistance of evil? Or would you obligingly have held out your arm in a blind Heil Hitler? Today, if there was an active shooter with a gun to your temple asking you if you were a Christian, would your last breath be spent declaring your faith? Or would your fear and self-preservation lead you to deny Him?
These aren’t pleasant things to think about. No one wants to be in that situation. Jesus says clearly that, "Whoever denies me before man, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:33) When you commit to Christianity for real, you are committing your whole life to Him. In our world today, that promise seems to just have lost a lot of its punch. How legit is your claim to Christianity? What would you do in those situations?
When I ask myself these questions, I initially become filled with conviction. I think, “YES. I most definitely would be willing to die for Jesus. I would have chosen to die for Him in all of those circumstances.” Then I become plagued with doubt. “Would I really?” Many of the citizens in Nazi Germany weren’t bad people. They were caught up in propaganda and fear. I bet if you had asked them hypothetically about a similar situation, many would have strongly believed they would do the right thing. Yet there they were turning a blind eye to the sickening atrocities around them. “Would I really risk everything and even die for Christ?” I like to think that I would. But I can’t know for sure. It’s one of those things that you can’t really know until it happens to you. I could sit here all day and proudly claim that I would be willing to die for my faith, but until there is a gun to my head and I’m actually faced with the decision, I really don’t know how I would act. What would you do?
Now obviously it’s a good thing that we aren’t facing imminent death around every corner. But then again, is it? It makes me think.
Would it be better to be safe but lukewarm, or to be in danger but convicted?
I sure hope we have not become generations that have fallen asleep, but that there is real substance behind our claims of Christianity! After all Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)
So how do we know if we would actually lay down our lives for our faith in Christ? How can we know what we would do if no one is actually threatening our lives right this second? Jesus makes it clear to us, “He who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much.” (Luke 16:10). We can predict how faithful we would most likely be in the fatal moment based on how faithful we are about the little things around us right now. My mom constantly tells me, “The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.” How you act today says a lot about how you would act in a high pressure/life-or-death moment. So let’s see about ourselves! I say I’m willing to sacrifice my life, but.....
Am I willing to sacrifice woke or sexual movies, music, shows, and books?
Am I willing to sacrifice swearing?
Am I willing to sacrifice my pride and endure potential embarrassment?
Am I willing to sacrifice sarcasm?
Am I willing to sacrifice wearing flattering, trendy, but also immodest clothing?
Am I willing to sacrifice laziness and comfort?
Am I willing to sacrifice being cool and well-liked?
Am I willing to sacrifice my time to God?
Am I willing to sacrifice popularity and social status?
Am I willing to sacrifice some fun?
Am I willing to sacrifice fitting in?
Am I willing to sacrifice being right?
Am I willing to sacrifice my future plans to Him?
Am I willing to sacrifice my money?
Am I willing to sacrifice my energy?
Am I willing to sacrifice my precious relationships if He asks me to?
Am I willing to sacrifice……? You fill in the blanks.
So now evaluate. Would you lay down your life? What kind of Christians are we? The kind who balk in the face of sacrifice or the kind who would lay down their lives in an instant? It's not easy by any means, and we have to give ourselves grace. But only after we answer these questions will we begin to know, by the fruit of our actions, are we full-heart and full-life Christians??
You don’t have to wait until the gun is to your head to begin to lay your life down to Jesus; piece by piece, day by day, surrender your life to Him.
Dear Lord, Thank You first of all for Your ultimate sacrifice. What would I do if I was asked to make my own? Please give me the strength and courage to lay down the little things in life. It's hard sometimes, but for You I will never stop trying. Please fill me with the fruits of the Spirit so that I can joyfully realize that it's not just saying no to the worldly things, but also saying yes to the God things. Give me strength and courage and love to chase after You with my full-heart and not be swayed by the things of the world. To say that You are good to me would be the biggest understatement in the world! Thanks for everything.
Amen
I finally made time to read this post and I’m so glad I did ! It was very inspiring and consistent with all the things God has been showing me recently . Thank you Grace for all of the reminders of staying true to Jesus ❤
Wow, this post was AMAZING! I loved it so much, and it encouraged me to continue sacrificing the smaller things! Thank you for this! ♥️
P.S. thanks for the shoutout ;)
Thanks !!! So true!🥹
This is so encouraging grace!
Hi Grace,
There is nothing that will ever compares to Christ’s love for us. You share Christ‘s love so beautifully & your compassion for people is truly heard & felt in your writing! Thank you for caring about Jesus & others with all your heart. God loves you beyond measure & so do I.💕