PHILIPPIANS 2:8

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.”

Every day, Christians around the world face the danger of death by radicals just for believing in Jesus Christ. Nigeria is ground zero, it seems, for this fierce blood thirsty gang. I have heard that these radicals believe if they can take Nigeria, all of northern Africa will fall to Islam. We should pray daily for saints around the world who are literally fleeing for their lives.

On the other hand, Jesus came with one purpose – to die for us. Today’s verse points that out clearly. Paul writes that Jesus was “obedient to the point of death.” Albert Barnes explains this phrase with an analogy of a soldier. “…the soldier, when he is morally certain that to obey will be followed by death. Thus, many a company or platoon has been ordered into the ‘deadly breach, or directed to storm a redoubt, or to scale a wall, or to face a cannon, when it was morally certain that death would be the consequence. No profounder spirit of obedience can be evinced than this. It should be said, however, that the obedience of the soldier is in many cases scarcely voluntary, since, if he did not obey, death would be the penalty. But, in the case of the Redeemer, it was wholly voluntary. He placed himself in the condition of a servant to do the will of God, and then never shrank from what that condition involved.”

APPLICATION

I know what you’re thinking. Carl, I will never be called on to give my life for Jesus. That just happens somewhere else. Don’t be so certain. What if you faced that decision? What would you do? It is better to be prepared now. I heard a story of a store clerk who was held up at gun point when the thief asked for all the money. The clerk held up his hands and shouted, “Sudden death, Sudden glory!” The thief was so rattled, he ran from the store. Years later, these two met again and the thief had given his life to Christ.

For believers, death is simply a portal to our eternal reward. It is not something to be feared. Now, how you die may be of some concern. For instance, I don’t want to get eaten by a bear, lol. But I am ready. I am at peace with death whenever it comes.

I think Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. “54 But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: ‘DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR VICTORY? WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR STING?’ 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen!

Father, prepare me to face any evil that comes my way by spurning the fear of death.