When Dying Means Living

We all face critical junctures in life—moments of decision where we must choose between two paths. These are times when our will intersects with God’s will, and we must decide whether to follow our own desires or surrender to His plan. These pivotal points aren’t a one-time experience; they’re a recurring choice throughout a believer’s life. Yet, in these defining moments, we can experience profound transformation by choosing the path that leads to life. This is the principle of “death unto life.”

At every turning point, there is a decision to be made. The world offers a way that seems easy and comfortable, but it’s often the path of self-preservation, control, and personal ambition. God’s way, however, requires surrender—laying down our own desires in favor of His higher plan. While it’s not always the easiest or most comfortable road, it is the only one that leads to true life.

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).

This is the paradox of the kingdom of God: life comes from death. Just as a seed must die in the soil before it can bear fruit, we too must die to our old selves, our self-centered desires, and our will in order to bear the fruit of the spirit and walk in the power of resurrection life. This is when dying means living.

As I think back on my own walk with God, I can see countless moments when I stood at a crossroads. Some choices were small, others life-changing, but each was an opportunity to either hold on to my own way or surrender to His. I won’t pretend I’ve always chosen well. There were times I resisted, afraid of what I might lose. Yet, every time I’ve laid my will at His feet, I’ve discovered that what He gives in return far surpasses anything I gave up. The peace, strength, and joy that flow from His resurrection life are not just truths written on a page—they are lived realities. And the longer I walk this path, the more I realize that obedience, even in the smallest steps, is never wasted.

While we often think of life-defining moments as rare, the truth is that we face them every day. Each day is an opportunity to choose—to die to our own desires and embrace God’s will over our own. This is the ongoing, daily surrender that Paul speaks of.

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body” (2 Corinthians 4:10–11).

Each time we surrender our own desires and follow God’s will, we are walking the path of “death unto life.” Every act of obedience, every decision to follow Jesus—no matter how small—is a defining moment. As we surrender, we begin to experience the fullness of resurrection life that Jesus promised.

The principle of “death unto life” isn’t just about laying down our will—it’s about experiencing the power of God’s resurrection life. We may think of resurrection in terms of the afterlife, but the power of resurrection is meant to be active in our lives right now.

“And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11)

Resurrection life isn’t something that will happen in the future; it’s a present reality. When we surrender to God, His resurrection power begins to flow through us, enabling us to live in victory over sin, temptation, and fear. Resurrection life empowers us to forgive, to love, to endure hardship, and to live in peace despite the chaos around us.

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).

Paul’s pursuit wasn’t just about understanding doctrine; it was about experiencing the power of the resurrection in his own life. The same is true for us today. We are called to share in Christ’s resurrection life while we are still in our mortal body. This resurrection life manifests through our obedience, surrender, and willingness to follow Christ, no matter the cost.

The place of decision is a place of surrender. Jesus set the ultimate example of surrender when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). In the Garden, Jesus faced a decisive moment—to follow the Father’s will, which would lead to suffering and death, or to avoid the cross. But he chose the path of surrender, knowing it would lead to resurrection life. In doing so, he secured the victory over sin and death for all who would believe.

As followers of Christ, we are called to follow his example of surrender. Every day, we encounter key decisions where we must choose to lay down our desires and follow God’s will. These moments of surrender are where true spiritual growth takes place. They are the opportunities for us to share in Christ’s sufferings and experience the power of his resurrection.

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

Though surrender is often difficult, it is through surrender that we experience the glory of God. When we choose to die to our desires, we find life in Christ. This is the paradox of the spiritual fork in the road: it is only by choosing the path of death that we find life. It is in laying down our own will that we experience the fullness of God’s resurrection life. And it is through this resurrection life that we become more like Christ, reflecting his glory to the world around us.

When you find yourself at a pivotal choice, don’t shrink back. Step forward in faith. Choose the path of surrender. Choose the path of “death unto life.” In every moment of surrender, God’s resurrection life will be revealed in you. In every act of obedience, you will experience the power of God’s spirit working in you, transforming you from the inside out.

In His service,