More Than Life

I heard a song the other day on the radio. Can't remember who sang it, but the group sings it from Christ's persective. Now I've heard this song dozens of times, and it came on the radio on a day no more special than any other day. But this time, one of the lines socked me in face.

"You mean more to me than life."

My first reaction was to reject it. It's a lie. How can anything be more important than Christ himself? Christ's life is invaluable, precious, to be revered. How can anything be more important than his life?

I listened, then pondered. The line played again. The words filtered into a dark place in my soul. A light snapped on in my head and shot a piercing beam right into my heart.

It was true. Totally and completely true. I suddenly got it. How could I have missed it? The truth of it is so simple, so obvious. My brain ran a rampant trail of revelation.

He gave up his life for us.

I do mean more to him than life.

We meant more to Jesus than his very own life.

I don't think I will ever forget that moment. I will forever remember sitting in my car, holding the steering wheel just so, passing down a street I've driven down so many times. The image is burned in my mind and the truth has seered my heart.

The stark reality of this truth is still seeping in, I think. Frankly, I hope the nature of it never ceases to shock me. I don't want to forget. I want to live my life branded by it. I want to be a slave to Christ. Sold out, fallen nature and all, for Jesus. I have so far to go...

In the meantime, remember this. You mean more to Him than life.