"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him." (John 12:24-26)
Surrounded by death of all kinds while in India, this is the passage that reverberated in mind during the entire trip, and in relation, this is the question that God has not let me escape: In what way will I die?
Dying so that others may live. This is what Jesus did, and we are called to follow Him and His road led to Calvary. It is a way marked by suffering and sacrifice, but it was necessary for the Father's glory and for the sake of others. And as the Father sustained the Son, He will sustain His children as they follow Jesus' example.
Holding on to life - this is when we truly lose it. Therefore, we need to loosen the vise grip that we have on our life and let go of our it and of all of the things with which we fill it - things that are empty, things which moth and rust will soon destroy.
Anyone who truly serves God must follow His example. The litmus test of whether or not you are a follower of the Savior: dying to yourself in order that others may live and know God. Do you pass the test?
We can either love our lives here and live for the present, pursuing our dreams, or we can live our lives for the eternal, knowing that we may not see the results of ours sacrifice this side of Heaven. Which will you have: instant gratification or a life lived in pursuit of the holy rather than momentary pleasure?
How does God want you to live your life? In what way does God want you to "die"?
I want to live for the eternal. I want my life to result in fruit that will eternally abide. Since I've been in India, I've recognized more of what a sacrifice this truly involves. But if the Lord calls, how can I refuse? This is His life - I forfeited it to Him years ago.
"To leave that which I love and expose myself to new labours and sufferings, which will be great...but the voice kept on saying, 'Wilt thou refuse?'" (Mother Teresa)
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest." (Matthew 9:36-37)
There is such a need for laborers in Kolkata. These people are like sheep without a shepherd. They are so lost, and they don't even know it. There are hundreds of people who are dying in this city each day without knowing God. They need to know! Break our hearts, God, over this great need. I pray that we as believers will all be willing to spend our lives working the harvest. This is my one chance to die - and I eagerly seek to do it for my Lord.
Because people need to know.
"If the leaves had not been let go to fall and wither, if the tree had not consented to be a skeleton for many months, there would be no new life rising, no bud, no flower, no fruit, no seed, no new generation." (Elisabeth Elliot)
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