Each time I get my driver’s license renewed, I’m asked if I would like to be an organ donor. The question always seems to catch me off guard and o I need to pause and think about it.
Some organs (like kidneys) can be shared without harm to the donor. But others, such as the liver or heart, can only be transplanted after the donor has died. One must die so that another can live. It is a challenging concept for our mortal minds to comprehend, yet that’s exactly what Jesus did for you and me.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)
We have the greatest example of sacrificial giving through Jesus Christ.
My dilemma over becoming an organ donor is fairly simple. I worry that someone might deem my life as unimportant and therefore allow me to die so that someone else might live. I suppose it’s a good thing Jesus didn’t think that way.
Jesus is the exact representation of His Father, perfect in every way, and yet He willingly gave up His life so that you and I would have eternal life with Him.
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)
Sin is like a contaminant that causes decay in our spirit. This decay, if left untreated, will lead to spiritual death. Thankfully, God offers a heart transplant to anyone willing to acknowledge that he is a sinner, believes Jesus paid the price for our sins, and confesses Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It’s that easy! The very One who performs your surgery will also provide you with a clean and perfect heart.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)
Jesus not only embraced humility in esteeming Himself to be nothing, but he also made the sacrifice for those who did not yet know Him and would even reject Him. Now that’s some seriously sacrificial love.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)