My wife and I have been reading about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and his story makes me think of others who, like him, let go of every last thing that this life offers, even life itself, willingly, to seek first the Lord's kingdom and His righteousness. Bonhoeffer forewent a life of ease, the opportunity to save himself, and a long life, all to speak the truth in the face of certain death, fight evil, and save the lives of others. I think of Eric Liddell, who found himself in the same war, but over 4,000 miles away in China. Liddell could easily have fled to safety with his wife and children, and lived out the rest of his days enjoying the notoriety of a world-famous athlete. Instead, he remained in war-torn China, daily laying his own life down to save those who had nowhere to flee to, putting himself in harm's way to provide for the weak, until he himself was finally captured and interred in a prison camp, never to see the outside again. Even from there, Liddell spent his days taking care of other prisoners, especially the children, many of whom would live to be freed, making that darkest time of their lives bearable. Jesus said, in Matthew 16:24-26, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
How did these men, and others like them lay their lives down? How can we bury someone who is precious to us, get up and go on, not grieving, as do the rest who have no hope? How can we lose our very lives? Because of the resurrection of Jesus! He is the first-born from the dead (Colossians 1:18). Before we were, He is. After we have been, He is.
"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"-John 11:25-26