When someone was sleeping soundly, my mother would say that they were “dead to the world.” She meant, of course, that they were oblivious of the world around them.

Those of us who follow Jesus are described (in the Bible) as being “dead to the world”. Scripture doesn't use those specific words of course, but when we read that we're "crucified to the world", the meaning is the same. When Paul says in Galatians 6:14 that "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world", he means just that.

As anyone in Jesus’ day knew, if a person was seen walking down the road carrying a cross, it was a one way trip. They were never seen again, they were about to die. Therefore, by Paul saying he died to the world, he meant that everything that the world meant to him (before his conversion) was now dead to him. 

A prominent theologian once said that Jesus invites us to come to Him and die. In some sense, that's what happens to everyone who believes in Jesus. They renounce the world (and what it offers) in order to have the One who is worth abundantly more than anything this world can offer.

This doesn't mean that we go off and live in a cave somewhere, and wait for the second coming (or our death). What it does mean, is that although we still live in this world and enjoy its blessings, we're prepared to give up anything (or all things) this world offers in order to keep Jesus. Whether we lose our health, wealth, reputation, friends or anything else, we know that we'll still be content—as long as we have Jesus our life.

There is much to take in when we consider "dying to the world". Often we don't end up losing everything when we become followers of Christ—but some Christians do—such as the early church martyrs.

We consider ourselves dead to the world because Christ died for us. We're alive, but alive to Jesus and His will instead of alive to our will.

Jesus demands such radical obedience when He says in Matthew 16:24, “If any one would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (NIV).

Have you come to Jesus and died?

Do you have this radical relationship to the One who died and rose again for sinners?

If you have, then whatever your loss in this life, you've already decided the issue. As long as you have Jesus you'll learn to be content.

If you haven't taken up your cross to follow Jesus, then you should “die” today in order to receive the abundant life He offers everyone who will turn to Him.

He waits to hear from you. Come to Him and come today.