“Wow, did you see the legs on that woman? I’d die to have legs like that!”
“Man, I’d die to have a penthouse in Manhattan...just for a week, even.”
How many times have we heard, or even expressed, sentiments like these? When they are uttered, people draw out the word “die”, like, “I’d dieeeeeeeeeee,” all for the sake of emphasizing how much we supposedly want something. Are we serious?
The truth is that no one who ever says such things is actually serious. We throw around superlative emotions for affect. It’s a farce, isn’t it…maybe a little offensive even to someone who has actually kept their word?
Let me give you some Holy Scripture that speaks honestly about who dies for what and what’s actually worth dying for.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
— Romans 5:6-8
It’s like Jesus said, “I’d dieeeeee for you!” And then He actually followed through. The difference between Him and the rest of us is that He really meant what He said when He said He’d die for you!
“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
— John 10:17-18
What a stark contrast to our empty proclamations about ice cream, physical attributes, and wealth.
So, this begs the question, “What would you die for?” Really. The apostle Paul said, “I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). What would you exchange for your own life? Food for thought the next time you pretend you are willing to barter with it.
Life is a gift, is it not? Shall we belittle the blessing by casting it off, even if in word only? Wouldn’t that be in accordance with the attitude of, say Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:29-34)? He bartered something of great value for something menial. The Bible says that we have been “wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) - we are of great value to Him. God has created us so that He could save us and then spend eternity with those whom He loves, and who love Him back (1 John 4:19). Isn’t it a little crass to say we’d “dieeee” for something of comparatively little value? Is it fair to say that dying for another human being, say like a soldier might, is the only fair exchange for your life?
According to the old saying, “There is truth in jest.” Well, is there? Only you can answer that.
The next time you say “I’d dieeee for this or that,” remember the One who meant what He said and actually died so that you may live for all of eternity with Him. Perspective is everything. Let us not forget what Jesus said, “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man” (Matthew 15:18). May we respect God’s blessings wholly, starting with our own lives. “There must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:4).
More than all of that, though, let us ever-appreciate that Jesus was a man of His word. When He said He’d die for us, He really meant it. Thank God for this singular truth.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
