SHOW ME HOW TO LIVE

John 10:7-10
7 Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Eugene Peterson recounts a story about one of my favorite novelists, Chaim Potok. Chaim had always dreamed of becoming a writer. With his mind made up, he had pieced together a plan for pursuing his dream.

Shortly before departing for college, his mother pulled him aside. "Chaim," she said, "I have an idea for you, even better than becoming a writer. Become a brain surgeon. You will keep a lot of people from dying and you will make a lot of money."

"I want to be a writer," Chaim responded.

On numerous occasions, he and his mom would rehash this same conversation. She would try to convince him to become a brain surgeon so he could "keep a lot of people from dying" and "make a lot of money." Chaim would steadfastly refuse, repeating that writing was his passion.

Finally, on one tense day, Chaim's mother ratcheted up the pressure and forcefully stressed how he was wasting his life and should be a "brain surgeon to keep lots of people from dying and would make lots of money."

Chaim's emotion surfaced as he responded intensely, "Mama, I don't want to keep people from dying. I want to show them how to live!"

I think Jesus resonated with the same passion of Chaim's words. Jesus did not leave heaven and enter human history merely to counteract the result of our sinful rebellion against Him. Jesus did not endure the agony of the cross just to cancel out the effects of the spiritual death our sin imposed upon us. As powerful as the reality of Jesus' winning our forgiveness is, He viewed His sacrifice more as a first step, willingly done so He could provide something more.

The mission of Jesus is not only to provide an antidote for the poison of sin we have drunk. He also wants to redeem our hearts to create within us the capacity for all the joy and pleasure He has intended for us since creation. Jesus came to show us how to live. --Winn Collier

DESTINATION POINTS

* What do I normally consider when I ponder the question of why Jesus died?
* How does Jesus' desire to teach me how to live resonate with me?
* What do I desperately need God to teach me?

LINKS:
Why Did Christ Have To Die?

Chaim Potok

bottom line: Embracing Jesus' death will free us to really live.

soul journey