THE DAY I DIED

 

By Evang Taiye Ajayi 

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." — Colossians 3:3

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." — Galatians 2:20

Every human being entered this world with a sinful nature. The greatest battle every Christian faces is not first with Satan, but with the flesh. God's ultimate desire is not merely to forgive our sins repeatedly but to bring our old nature to the cross so that Christ can fully live through us.

If we are the temple of God, then we are His vessels. A vessel is designed to contain something. God's desire is that we become vessels filled with His presence, His character, and His life.

Imagine a child suffering from diarrhea. The child soils himself repeatedly, and each time the parent lovingly washes him. While washing is necessary, it does not solve the root problem. The child needs medicine that heals the sickness from within.

This is similar to our spiritual lives. When we sin, we sincerely ask God to forgive us, and the precious blood of Jesus cleanses us. But if the root cause—the flesh—is left untouched, we often find ourselves returning to the same sins. God's answer is deeper than repeated cleansing. He deals with the source of the problem by crucifying the old self.

Paul declared, "I have been crucified with Christ." The "I" that loved sin, the "I" that continually rebelled against God, died with Christ on the cross. When that old nature dies, Christ's life begins to shine through us.

The Christian life is not about trying harder to imitate Jesus; it is about allowing Jesus to live His life through us. The old man dies so that Christ may be revealed in us.

Jesus said that unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. Christ's death was never meant to end with Him alone. Through His death and resurrection, He reproduces His life in everyone who surrenders completely to Him. This new life is made possible through the Holy Spirit.

Several years ago, while attending a Christian leadership program, I had an encounter with God that transformed my life forever. In that encounter, I experienced what I can only describe as the death of my old self. From that moment, Christ became more real to me than ever before. I desired for Him to walk through me, speak through me, love through me, and live through me. My greatest prayer became that people would see less of Taiye and more of Jesus.

This is the heart of the Christian life—not simply becoming a better person, but becoming a surrendered vessel through whom Christ expresses His life.

Today, ask yourself this question: Has the old "you" truly died? Or are you still trying to live the Christian life in your own strength?

When self dies, Christ reigns. When Christ reigns, His love, holiness, peace, and power become evident in your daily life.

May we all come to the place where we can confidently declare:

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, crucify everything in me that does not glorify You. Let my old nature die completely, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. May my thoughts, words, and actions reflect Your life every day. Let people see Christ in me. In Jesus' name, Amen.