Are You Ready to Die?

Last week, Pastor Matt’s challenging message to us forced us all to reevaluate our commitment to Christ.  Wow!  Chapter five of Acts, which was the chapter we read for last week, focused on the story of Ananias and Sapphira.  They sold their belongings, but held back a portion of the proceeds rather than giving it all to the apostles.  And, because of that act of disobedience to God and because they lied to God, both died.  Not a happy story with a happy ending, like we are used to hearing. 

However, it is an important story for us as Christians to look at and understand.  Pastor Matt showed a video at the end of his sermon that I thought really illustrated what it means to “die” for Christ.  There was a line-up of men sitting in chairs who were all holding towels.  You see they were preparing for Holy Baptism.  They were preparing for their deaths.  That’s why they looked so repentant and sorrowful.  The end to their current life was fast approaching.  And, then, when it was their turn, each man went for his Baptism.  He was literally put to death and was raised to new life in Christ. 

Through the waters of Holy Baptism, whether you are immersed or sprinkled, we are literally putting that person to death to rise up to a new life--a life with Christ.  We are literally washed clean and marked with the cross of Christ forever in our Baptism.  We are initiated into a very special priesthood.  We are made children of God. 

Martin Luther woke every day and, before his feet hit the ground, he would make the sign of the cross on his forehead and reclaim the promise given to him at his Baptism.  As baptized children of God, we have been given special status and we need to claim it each and every day! 

Over the next week, think about what it means to be a child of the Living Lord!  And while many of us were baptized as babies and do not remember our baptismal day, we can still make the sign on our forehead each morning just as the pastor did on that day when we were baptized and reclaim our status as God’s child.  We have been forgiven and washed clean by the blood of the Lamb and we are raised again on this very day to a new life in Christ Jesus. 

This weekend we celebrate Reformation Sunday and we also celebrate the Rite of Confirmation.  On Sunday afternoon, about 100 young people will stand before God and the congregation to say, “Yes, I believe" and claim their status as children of God.  They will “reclaim” or “confirm” their belief in the Triune God and in living a Christian life.

How about each of us?  Are we willing to die to self and reaffirm our status as children of the Living God?  Are we, like the young people at their Confirmation this Sunday, willing to stand up and proclaim ourselves as Christ followers even unto death?   Are we willing to die for Jesus sake?   Are we willing to let God lead our lives so completely that we truly die to self?  More of you, God, and less of me!  More of you God, less of me!

The Christian group Leeland has a song that helps us to picture what it’s like to die to self and to lay down all of our troubles.  It’s called Holy Spirit, Have Your Way. 

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Carol