We Accomplish More In Death

Verse of the day: Judges 16:30, Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.

Samson accomplished more in death than he did in life. The reason he accomplished less while he lived was because he lived for self. When the opportunities arose, he served his own fleshly desires. In the end, when he was finally in a position to completely surrender and give his life for the Lord, God used him to accomplish more than he had to date. Thus he accomplish more in death than he did in life. As born again believers, we have the awesome opportunity to accomplish great things for the Kingdom and for God’s glory. However, that will take experiencing death. It will take an honest and concerted effort in surrendering our lives to Jesus. Luke 9:23 says, “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” The fact of the matter is that we accomplish more when we are dead than when we live. Here is what I am saying. Galatians 6:14 says, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” In Christ, the world should be dead to us, and we dead to the world. What that means is that the things of this world, the lusts thereof, should not be the priority of our lives. We should be living for the Lord in such a way that the world has no use for us. It is this kind of surrender, it is this kind of death, that will allow God to use us beyond what any of us could ever imagine. It is when we die to self and the world that we begin to do more than when we compromise our walk with the Lord, trying to live with one foot in the world and one foot in Christianity. There are far too many of us that wake up each day more concerned about accomplishing whatever is on our agenda for the day, without giving a second thought to what Jesus would have us do. We throw a quick prayer at God and maybe read a verse or two, and go on as if we have done God some great favor by spending five superficial minutes with Him. We then go about trying to work out our plans and the only time we think about God is when things do not go our way. Suddenly God becomes the priority, but only so that we can ask God to help us be successful with our plan. We seal it with “in Jesus’ Name” and think that this will twist God’s arm to help us accomplish our will. That is not dying to self. Dying to self means starting the day in true fellowship with the Lord (even if it means rising earlier in the day), praying and asking Him to lead us and guide us in accomplishing His will on this day (tomorrow will take care of itself, if He gives us another day). It means that we will not just read a verse and forget about it. Instead, we meditate on what we have read and seek ways to apply it as we live out the day. It means changing our plans, if necessary, to take a detour and help someone, give to others selflessly, say a kind word, stop and listening to someone who is hurting, and lead them to the only One who can heal their pain. It means looking for opportunities to share the Gospel with as many unsaved people as we can, whether by our words, actions, or simply handing them a tract. Dying to self means making what is important to God important to us. It means that we put away our gods, such as money, status, and earthly gain, and worship the One True God, by the way that we live, and by offering up the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise, continually, regardless of what circumstances we find ourselves in, as we are commanded in Hebrews 13:15 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18. When we begin to live a life that is surrendered to Christ, alive to Him and dead to self and the world, we will truly accomplish things that are worthy of glory and praise to God, and heavenly reward. In death, if we are dead in Christ, we will accomplish more than if we live life in the flesh and for our own selfish gain.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).