They did not love their lives

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. – Revelation 12.10-12

I have to admit that I generally love life. I love my family and I love my church and I love my friends. I love living in Ireland.

And I don’t think that there is anything wrong with loving the live God has given us. We ought to be grateful and content with what we have.

But it is possible to love life too much. Loving life can get in the way of serving God. Moses could easily have chosen the life of a king, but he chose to ‘suffer the afflictions of this world’ instead. One of Paul’s helpers left him and the work because he ‘loved this present world.’

We all love our lives to a certain extent. I like to be comfortable like anyone else does. I don’t like to leave my comfort zone because it disrupts my life.

But the saints here loved Christ more than they loved their own lives. They loved their lives so little that they could submit their bodies as living sacrifices. They were willing to lay it all on the altar.

Frances Havergal wrote a wonderful hymn that sets the tone of what it means to put Christ ahead of loving our lives. I think these words say it all.

Help me Lord to not be bound by my love for my own life.

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.