You must die before you live.

     What is the essence of life.  What is it all about.  What is the force behind it all and what keeps it all together and running.  Life is in us and all around us.  As a Christian I believe that Jesus is the originator of all life.  In fact, He is the originator (Creator God) of all things; those things which are seen and those things which are not seen.  Those things which have life and those things which are inorganic with no life.

     However, when we are born and through our early life, being exposed to those things which tarnish us, our life becomes cloudy.  The full expression of who we are becomes muffled.  We are still here.  We still have life.  But because of our life’s journey we are tainted.

     What must we do to reclaim that unadulterated and whole and pure life that God wants for us.  I tell you one thing.  You won’t find it out there.  Yes, it is God’s creation.  But you won’t find the land of the living in the world of the inanimate.    Things that sustain our lives and that allow us to live are good.  But they are not the source of our life.  I know that it is confusing.  You think the more you have the more fulfilled you will be.  But “things” become a stumbling block. 

     You may say, isn’t that why we are here.  To work and enjoy the fruit of our labor.  But all the work and all of that striving, where does it get you.  In the end what does it really matter.  In reality it keeps you from really living. 

     So, two things keep us from an unadulterated life.  Really three.  Being born into a not so perfect world, the sum total of our life experiences, and finally striving for more of this worlds goods. 

     So, how do we truly live.  Keep yourself unspotted from the world.  Accept the cards that you were delt and trust in Him to work out everything for the good.  And finally, don’t strive for more.  You must put to death or turn away or reject the evil enticements of this world.  It is all designed to lure you away from your life with Christ. 

     There is a dross that needs to be burned away.  The fog needs to be lifted.  The stagnant waters need to be free flowing and clean.  You must die to anything and everything that would cover the real life within you. 

     You have a pure and holy part of you.  But it can’t be found without the help of the true Giver of Life.  When that holy part is united with the Holy Spirit, true life really begins.  We must put to death all that would hinder the uniting of our spirit with His. 

     That’s what It means, “you have to die before you live.”  Some say they want to live before they die.  But to focus on living in this world and trying to experience everything that it offers is truly a sentence of death.  You are caught up in the system.  Always searching but never finding true happiness and true life.

     Bring that dull surface to one that shines,

          Turn that water into wine (unfermented).

     Put to death that life you live,

          And live the life that He will give.

Ricky B