IT WAS NOVEMBER 19, 1863, WHEN PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SPOKE IN GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, SAYING “...WE HAVE COME TO DEDICATE A PORTION OF THAT FIELD, AS A FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR THOSE WHO HERE GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT THAT NATION MIGHT LIVE. IT IS ALTOGETHER FITTING AND PROPER THAT WE SHOULD DO THIS. BUT, IN A LARGER SENSE, WE CAN NOT DEDICATE -- WE CAN NOT CONSECRATE -- WE CAN NOT HALLOW -- THIS GROUND. THE BRAVE MEN, LIVING AND DEAD, WHO STRUGGLED HERE, HAVE CONSECRATED IT, FAR ABOVE OUR POOR POWER TO ADD OR DETRACT. THE WORLD …CAN NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID HERE. IT IS FOR US THE LIVING, RATHER, TO BE DEDICATED HERE TO THE UNFINISHED WORK WHICH THEY WHO FOUGHT HERE HAVE THUS FAR SO NOBLY ADVANCED. IT IS RATHER FOR US TO BE HERE DEDICATED TO THE GREAT TASK REMAINING BEFORE US -- THAT FROM THESE HONORED DEAD WE TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION TO THAT CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION -- THAT WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN.”
WHEN MILITARY PERSONNEL GIVE UP THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY’S FREEDOM, IT IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. WE HEAR THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN THAT WE LIVE IN LIBERTY BECAUSE THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM.
IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN THIS FREEDOM, WE MUST, AS LINCOLN STATED “…BE DEDICATED HERE TO THE UNFINISHED WORK WHICH THEY WHO FOUGHT HERE HAVE THUS FAR SO NOBLY ADVANCED.” WE NEED TO FIND WITHIN OURSELVES SUCH DEVOTION. IF ANYTHING OF VIRTUE IS TO SURVIVE, THERE MUST ALWAYS BE A PEOPLE WHO WILL RISE UP AND PASSIONATELY DEFEND AND UPHOLD IT.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR OUR FAITH! THE WORK OF GOD’S KINGDOM IS UNFINISHED AND WE MUST TAKE UP THE MANTLE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US IN AGES PAST.
WE MUST TAKE THE HELM, STAND OUR GUARD WITH AN UNWAVERING RESOLVE TO BE A HOLY, OBEDIENT, AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUT THE COMMANDS OF JESUS TO BE AT WORK MAKING DISCIPLES, BAPTIZING AND TEACHING OTHERS TO OBEY ALL GOD HAS COMMANDED US.
WE STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH SO STRONGLY THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN WORK WITHIN US TO BE WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE END OF THE EARTH. IF WE TRULY WISH THIS TO BE SO, THEN OUR LOVE FOR JESUS CHRIST WILL COMPEL US TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THIS MISSION.
1 JOHN 3:16, TELLS US “THIS IS HOW WE KNOW WHAT LOVE IS: JESUS CHRIST LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. AND WE OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.”AT FIRST THIS VERSE SOUNDS AS IF OUR RESPONSE IS UP TO US AS “OPTIONAL!” NOT SO! THE WORD FOR “OUGHT” CAN BE INTERPRETED AS “TO OWE OR BE INDEBTED,” AND “TO BE UNDER OBLIGATION.”
JESUS LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. HE GAVE US HIS ALL AND POURED OUT ALL HIS LOVE FOR US, WILLINGLY, OBEDIENTLY AND ALL FOR OUR REDEMPTION. JESUS LED BY EXAMPLE BY SHOWING THE FULL MEASURE OF LOVE BY LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE AND DYING A SACRIFICIAL DEATH UPON THE CROSS…FOR ALL OF HUMANITY.
WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE WORD “OBLIGATION” WHICH MEANS “AN ACT OR COURSE OF ACTION TO WHICH A PERSON IS MORALLY OR LEGALLY BOUND.” LAYING DOWN OUR LIVES FOR JESUS CHRIST AND FOR OTHERS IS AN ACTION WE BOUND MORALLY AND LEGALLY TO RENDER. OUR OBLIGATION TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES IS WHY SELFISHNESS AND SELF-CENTEREDNESS IS SUCH A WRETCHED ABOMINATION IN THE EYES OF GOD.
PROVERBS 16:17, LISTS ONE OF THE SEVEN THINGS THAT GOD HATES AND DETESTS ABOVE ALL ELSE. THIS ONE ATTRIBUTE IS A PERSON WITH HAUGHTY EYES. ONE WHO IS HAUGHTY IS ONE WHO HAS BECOME THE EPITOME OF THE EGOCENTRIC.
ONE WHO IS HAUGHTY HAS GONE BEYOND THE DEFINITION OF PRIDE BECAUSE NOW THEY FEEL AND BEHAVE IN A MANNER AS IF ALL OTHERS ARE INFERIOR TO THEM. THEIR THREE FAVORITE PEOPLE IN LIFE HAVE BECOME “ME, MYSELF AND I.”
NOT ONLY HAS LAYING DOWN THEIR LIFE BECOME UNTHINKABLE, BUT THE MERE TURNING OF THEIR HEAD TO SO MUCH AS GLANCE AT ANOTHER PERSON IS CONSIDERED BENEATH THEIR OWN DIGNITY. IT IS NO WONDER GOD DETESTS SUCH A SIN!
WE MUST KEEP OUR EYES OFF OURSELVES TO GUARD AGAINST PRIDE THAT LEADS TO HAUGHTINESS. WE MUST KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS WHO LEADS BY EXAMPLE. PHILIPPIANS 2:7-8, REMINDS US THAT JESUS “EMPTIED HIMSELF…TOOK ON THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT… HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO DEATH - EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS!” WE, TOO, MUST LAY DOWN OUR LIVES!
THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW WE DO THIS COME FROM THE WORDS OF JESUS IN OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGE OF JOHN 15:12-13. IF WE ARE TO LIVE OUT THE COMMANDS OF JESUS, WE MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS HE HAS LOVED US AND, SECONDLY, LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS.
AGAIN, JESUS LEADS BY EXAMPLE: ROMANS 5:7-8, “NOW, MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO DIE FOR AN UPRIGHT PERSON, THOUGH SOMEONE MIGHT PERHAPS BE WILLING TO DIE FOR A PERSON WHO IS ESPECIALLY GOOD. BUT GOD SHOWED HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US BY SENDING CHRIST TO DIE FOR US WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS.”
THE FIRST LESSON IS TO REALIZE THAT OUR LOVE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE OR PICK AND CHOOSE WHOM TO LOVE. IN VERSE 12, THE GREEK WORD FOR THE LOVE WE ARE TO SHOW IS THE EXACT SAME GREEK WORD USED FOR THE LOVE JESUS HAS SHOWN TO US.
THE WORD FOR LOVE IS “AGAPAO” OR “UNCONDITIONAL” MEANING OUR LOVE IS FREELY GIVEN, UNHINDERED, WILLFUL, WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONS ATTACHED. WE LOVE, FULLY, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OR RESPONSE GIVEN TO US.
TRYING TO DO THIS ON OUR OWN IS IMPOSSIBLE. WE ARE POWERLESS TO OBEY JESUS’ COMMAND TO LOVE UNLESS HE, FIRST, LIVES IN US. JOHN 15:4 TELLS US THAT IN ORDER FOR JESUS TO LIVES IN US, WE FIRST, MUST ABIDE IN HIM. ABIDING IN JESUS WILL ENABLE US TO LOVE LIKE JESUS!
THE WORD “ABIDE” IS A RELATIONAL WORD! ABIDE IS NOT A VACCINE THAT ONCE YOU “ABIDE” YOU ARE ABLE TO ABIDE! THAT’S SILLY! ABIDING IN JESUS IS NOT FULFILLED IN ONE SINGLE ACT. JUST LIKE PICKING UP YOUR CROSS DAILY TO FOLLOW JESUS, YOU MUST MAKE THIS A DAILY, ONGOING, MOMENT-BY-MOMENT DECISION TO MAINTAIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
ABIDING IN JESUS IS NOT A PASSIVE, RESTFUL BLISS BY ANY MEANS. WE LIVE OUT AN ACTIVE FAITH THAT IS INTENTIONAL, SACRIFICIAL, LOVING, AND FRUITFUL. THIS IS HOW WE ARE CAPABLE OF LOVING WITHOUT ANY DISCRIMINATION OR RELUCTANCE! IT IS HOW WE CAN LOVE OUR ENEMIES AND THOSE WE FIND HARD OR IMPOSSIBLE TO LOVE.
THE FINAL LESSON IS KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE. JESUS IS SPEAKING ABOUT DEATH. HOWEVER, HE IS ASKING US TO DIE TO OUR SELF. WE MUST PUT OUR OWN LIFE IN ITS PROPER ORDER. NOTHING CAN BE GREATER THAN OR TAKE THE PLACE OF GOD WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST NOT JUDGE OTHERS LESS THAN OURSELVES. AGAIN, THIS IS A CALL TO FORSAKE SELFISHNESS AND BEING A HAUGHTY BELIEVER.
WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE BELOVED STATEMENT MADE BY MISSIONARY JIM ELLIOT WHO SAID, “"HE IS NO FOOL WHO GIVES WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP TO GAIN THAT WHICH HE CANNOT LOSE."
JIM ELLIOT KEPT A JOURNAL AND HIS ENTRY FOR OCTOBER 28, 1949; HE EXPRESSED HIS BELIEF THAT WORK DEDICATED TO JESUS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS OWN LIFE. HE MADE REFERENCE TO LUKE 9:24 "FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO SAVE THEIR LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES THEIR LIFE FOR ME WILL SAVE IT."
JIM ELLIOT DID, INDEED, LAY DOWN HIS LIFE. HE AND FOUR OTHER MISSIONARIES WERE KILLED ON JANUARY 8, 1956, BY NATIVE WARRIORS IN A REMOTE AREA OF ECUADOR. ELLIOT WAS JUST 28.
MANY STORIES, JUST LIKE JIM ELLIOT’S, HAVE BEEN SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE AGES. THIS IS WHY TERTULLIAN, IN HIS WRITING “APOLOGETICUS” IN THE 15TH CENTURY, PENNED THOSE INFAMOUS WORDS, “THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS IS THE SEED OF THE CHURCH."
YES, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY WHO HAVE PHYSICALLY GIVEN UP THEIR EARTHLY LIFE AND HAVE DIED FOR JESUS. ALTHOUGH, MANY OF US TODAY, MAY NOT LEAVE THIS WORLD IN THAT WAY, WE ARE STILL CALLED TO DIE TO OURSELVES AND LAY OUR LIVES DOWN FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS AND OTHERS.
THE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PHRASE “LAY DOWN ONES LIFE” IS NOT EMPHASIZING PHYSICAL DEATH OR DYING, BUT OF GETTING OURSELVES GROUNDED IN THE WORD “SACRIFICE.”
WE MUST GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN LOVE EACH OTHER SACRIFICIALLY AS JESUS LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF IN THE HIGHEST FORM OF SACRIFICE….FOR US AND FOR OUR SINS. ROMANS 5:8, “BUT GOD SHOWED HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US BY SENDING CHRIST TO DIE FOR US WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS.”
WE MAY NOT BE CALLED TO DIE FOR SOMEONE, BUT WE CAN STILL RENDER SACRIFICIAL LOVE IN MANY OTHER WAYS TO THOSE AROUND US! IT IS NOT AS HARD OR AS DAUNTING OF A TASK AS WE MAY THINK: LISTENING, HELPING, SERVING, GIVING, ENCOURAGING, VISITING, RUNNING ERRANDS, BABY-SITTING, CROCHETING A PRAYER SHAW, VOLUNTEERING FOR THE NURSERY, HELPING WITH AWANA….THE LIST COULD DEFINITELY GO ON FOR HOURS OF THINGS WE COULD DO TO GIVE OF OURSELVES FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS!
REMEMBER! THIS APPLIES TO ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST THOSE IN OUR CHURCH OR CLOSE-KNIT CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. OUR LOVE HAS NO BOUNDARIES AND LOVES UNCONDITIONALLY.
LUKE 6:32-36, “IF YOU LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT CREDIT IS THAT TO YOU? EVEN SINNERS LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE THEM. AND IF YOU DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO ARE GOOD TO YOU, WHAT CREDIT IS THAT TO YOU? EVEN SINNERS DO THAT. AND IF YOU LEND TO THOSE FROM WHOM YOU EXPECT REPAYMENT, WHAT CREDIT IS THAT TO YOU? EVEN SINNERS LEND TO SINNERS, EXPECTING TO BE REPAID IN FULL. BUT LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THEM, AND LEND TO THEM WITHOUT EXPECTING TO GET ANYTHING BACK. THEN YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT, AND YOU WILL BE CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH, BECAUSE HE IS KIND TO THE UNGRATEFUL AND WICKED. BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL.”
I REALIZE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW LOVE TO THOSE DEEMED UNLOVABLE OR HARD TO LOVE CAN COME WITH A LEVEL OF RISK AND MAYBE DANGER, BUT WE ARE COMMANDED TO ACT LOVINGLY TOWARDS ALL PEOPLE. WE MAY NOT FEEL LOVE FOR THEM AT THE TIME, BUT WE CAN STILL RESPOND IN LOVING WAYS.
WHEREVER IT IS WE ARE FALLING SHORT….LET US GET UP AND ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. WHATEVER IS HINDERING US FROM BECOMING TRULY SACRIFICIAL, MAY WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO IDENTIFY IT AND RID OURSELVES OF THOSE OBSTACLES IN OUR LIFE.
LET US ALL TRULY LIVE OUT THE COMMAND TO LOVE OTHERS AS JESUS LOVED US! LET US REMEMBER WHAT IT MEANS TO “LAY DOWN OUR LIVES” FOR OTHERS. I LEAVE YOU TO PONDER THE WORDS OF THE FIRST VERSE OF THE HYMN, BY JUDSON VAN DE-VENTER“I SURRENDER ALL”:
ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER, ALL TO HIM I FREELY GIVE; I WILL EVER LOVE AND TRUST HIM, IN HIS PRESENCE DAILY LIVE. REFRAIN: I SURRENDER ALL, I SURRENDER ALL; ALL TO THEE, MY BLESSED SAVIOR, I SURRENDER ALL.”
