"You Must Die, If You Want To Live"

John 12:24-26 -- "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

Death always precedes new life! Winter’s chill, which kills the foliage and flora of last summer’s beauty now feeds and prepares the way for spring’s burst of new-found beauty and fresh evidence of life. The tree looked so dead last winter; you could not see the bulb of the lily, nestled ‘neath the ground, covered with snow; and the lush, green grass of spring and summer was nowhere to be found while death’s cold breath took its toll. Please read I Corinthians 15:36-38.

It can not always remain spring. We must let go of life and die to gain new life; fresh life, abundant life! Those who try so desperately to cling to what this present life offers will only waken to realize that they are left empty-handed, clutching the ashes of what was burned in the fires of the judgment of Almighty God. The memories of long ago victories and far distant conquests; the remembrances of many loves so long ago will ring ever so empty and hollow in the unholy hills of a devil’s hell. How wearisome now will seem all the latest dance steps, the continual changing of hair styles, the raising and lowering of hemlines, the widening and narrowing of ties and all the “fashion of this world,” which has long, long since lost all its appeal and attraction. How very high will seem the price that was paid for the cheap thrills of “living it up.”

Everything that seems so very important now will be seen then as it really is. All is vanity. Read the testimony of one who knows in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.

Those who discover the wonder of dying to gain new life will be rewarded greatly. They will gain true enjoyment in this present life and receive fulfillment of all the promised joys of another, even better life, in a far better place. It is said that, “You can’t take it with you.” For the world this is true, but for the Christian it is not, for we send what is worthwhile on ahead.

Let us examine the last verse, that we might better see its true meaning. “Where I am,” - even when here, He was there; even while now, here in our hearts, He is there; there too we may go, if we serve Him. So, then we shall both go there and be honored by the Father!!

We now see that the imperative thing is to serve Him. And He tells us how we might discover this great secret of the new life -

It is in following Him !!!