You haven't lived until you've died

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." - John 12:24-25

As part of my Seminary studies I have been studying things that are required of pastors. One of those studies involved a lecture from Pastor Sexton concerning, The Man of God Dies to Self. This lecture made a great impact on me and I had a great burden to learn and understand more what it means to die to one's self. After searching the Scriptures and gathering information from other religious studies, I found the Lord laying it on my heart to preach a message concerning this subject.

One thing that kept going through my head as I studied, prepared, prayed, and meditated for the sermon was the thought "you haven't lived until you've died." So many times in my life I have heard people making such expressions as "I'm living it up," or "I'm living life to it's fullest." As I thought about those expressions I couldn't help but think of how most people relate "good living" with selfish desires of the flesh. These same individuals believe that drinking, partying, socializing, sexual encounters, traveling etc.. are things that add accomplishment or somehow marks them as being knowledgeable or superior in life. One poor misguided individual said to me, "you need to get out more and experience the things the world has to offer." How far from the truth that is!

Our Lord is not interested in all of our so-called worldly "experience." He is more interested in what kind of seasoning is in our hearts and souls. I believe that the Bible teaches, until we die to ourselves, we can never experience life as the Lord intends for us to. In my message I related one of my personal experiences concerning my aunt and uncle. How my aunt devotes her life to waiting on my uncle who cannot wait on himself.. You can hear that section around the 17:48 mark in the video below.