Can We Experience The Freedom To Die?

Tomorrow, we celebrate the birth of our nation and our independence from British rule. I find myself contemplating the ultimate sacrifice by those who purchased my freedom. According to history.com, the number of Americans who died in combat was 8,624, while an estimated 10,000 died in camps from disease, and another 8,500 perished while being held captive in British ships. The loss of 25,000 men had a significant national impact because it was about 1% of the total 2.5 million population of the 13 colonies. Their willingness to die changed the history of the modern world. 

From an eternal perspective, these patriots also paved the way for incredible religious liberty and the spread of the Gospel.

As I contemplate their sacrifice, I find myself wondering whether my own life is truly sacrificial and whether I have a healthy enough perspective about death to live fearlessly. Am I changing the eternal course of history for anyone else? As I asked God for answers, He gave me three thoughts about developing a mindset to have the freedom to die: 1. It is an opportunity to glorify God; 2. Jesus empathizes as He, too, struggled with the prospect of death; and 3. Practicing the reordering of our loves changes our heart and casts out fear.

Let’s begin by discussing the first two points. 

When Jesus was about to face the horror of the death on the cross, He said:

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” 

And God the Father thundered from heaven:

“I have both glorified it (His name) and will glorify it again.”

John 12:27-28

Jesus was clearly troubled at the prospect of His own violent death. We are no different. Every fiber of our being abhors death because God implanted that strong aversion within us. God created us in His image and He is LIFE; He did not create us for death. Avoiding physical death is part of our survival instinct. But because of sin, we are doomed to die—both physically and eternally. Even though accepting the gift of salvation allows our soul and spirit to avoid spiritual death, it’s doubtful we will EVER become 100% comfortable with the idea of our own physical death!

Knowing our death can bring glory to God is important, but, also knowing Jesus grieved at the prospect of His own death gives us comfort because we know our Master struggled like we do—and won. He was not only tempted in all areas we are tempted, but He willingly gave Himself up in death—to give us life! The Bible says:

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:15-16

If the death of Jesus purchased the redemption of the entire human race. Our suffering, indeed, even our death, can take on a whole new realm of meaning and produce eternal hope. 

Although the rich knowledge that our death can be gloriously used to fulfill our ultimate destiny to glorify God, we need more than head knowledge, right?

To change the way we think in a way that produces a transformation in our life requires a significant change of HEART. We won’t become fearless to face the abyss of death by manufacturing courage. We will never sufficiently steel ourselves against the sting of death and find freedom from the fear it naturally instills in us.

Gaining the freedom to die requires a change in the heart.

We must work every day to reorder our loves. You see, we are quite desperately attached to this world and the friends and family we have here on earth. This is natural! God created us for love. But the only way we learn to strike the balance and live free to die is by reordering our loves. This is so critical that Jesus admonished: 

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Luke 14:26-27

“Hate” is a strong word. Jesus was demonstrating the critical need for us to love Him first—at all costs—because it is the key to gaining the freedom to die. To live in obedience to this first and greatest commandment—allows us to live in the freedom to die because we enter into the deep experience of the supernatural love of God and HIS love casts out fear! 1 John 4:18 

God must be our FIRST love in order for us to have HIS comfort as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

On this earth—we perpetually dwell in the shadow of death. Your death could be in the next hour. But death is, indeed—merely a shadow for those who are born again. We know the Son is on the other side of the shadow. When God is our greatest love, we live in the reality of His truth. When we, as born again believers, have allowed ourselves to be broken of self, we stop clinging to the world and our selfish desires. God gives us a healthy perspective of physical death because we are practicing death every day—that is, dying to self. In the process, we become free and be carriers of the Gospel, which gives life. This healthy view of physical DEATH allows us to accomplish the sacrificial mission of LIFE because our heart knows nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. 

One of the greatest freedoms of the Gospel is the freedom to die. 

“For me to LIVE is CHRIST and to DIE is GAIN.” 

Philippians 1:21

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