When will I die?

How do you thank someone for giving their life for you, let alone the God of the Universe?

I once read the story of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. The doctor explained that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance for recovery was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was the ideal donor.

“Would you give your blood to Mary?” the doctor asked. Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, “Sure, for my sister.” Soon the two children were wheeled into the hospital room—Mary, pale and thin; Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny's smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube.

With the ordeal almost over, his voice, slightly shaky, broke the silence. “Doctor, when do I die?”

Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he had agreed to donate his blood. He thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. In that brief moment, he had made a great decision. Johnny, fortunately, did not have to die to save his sister.

Johnny was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save his sister’s life. In the same way, Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and gave His life to save our lives. Because He died, we do not have to die spiritually.

Our payment was made! How do you thank someone for giving their life for you, let alone the God of the Universe? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Our reasonable service, or the least we can do, is to give Christ our lives. He shed His blood for us, so in return we should live for Him. He does not require we work for our salvation or earn it, but that we live to honor Him in appreciation for the free gift of salvation.

Sometimes we can forget the reason we read our Bibles, go to church, honor God, and live for the Lord. God has commanded it of us, but we should willingly obey Him because of all He has done for us!

Spend some time today thanking the Lord for His sacrifice. He willingly gave His life for you because He loved you so much. In return, make sure that everything you do today pleases Him. Throughout the day ask yourself this question:

After all God’s done for me, what am I doing for Him?

Source: DITW, January 12, 2009