No Regrets
Scripture Reading — John 12:20-33
“Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.”
John 12:24
Not too long ago a tragedy happened to a family in Chicago—two brothers in a family died accidentally. The brothers were canoeing with a friend in the Fox River. The friend fell into the water, and they jumped in to try to rescue their friend. All three were swept away by the strong currents. From the testimonies about their lives that I heard during the brothers’ memorial service, it probably didn’t surprise anyone who knew them that they would do that for a friend.
There’s a Chinese saying that goes like this: “Death can be as light (unimportant) as a feather, or it can be as heavy (important) as a mountain.”
We could say that the death of the two brothers on the Fox River was really “heavy.” They had lived well by showing care for others and helping them. For that there should be no regrets.
Their action was also a reflection of the image of our Creator God. In today’s Scripture passage, Jesus, the Son of God, used a parable about seed to prophesy his sacrificial death that would bring life to many. The most beautiful part about the story of the two brothers is that they were followers of Jesus and will live with him in eternity (Matthew 25:40).
If your life ended today, would Jesus say, “Come … take your inheritance” (Matthew 25:34)?
Thank you, Jesus, for dying for us on the cross. Help us to follow your example in loving and caring for others. Make us more and more like you each day. In your name, Amen.
About the author — Jimmy Tai-On Lin
Rev. Jimmy Lin is the Chinese ministry leader of The Back to God Hour. With his staff in Palos Heights and Hong Kong, Rev. Lin has ministered to over 1.3 billion Chinese-speaking people around the world for 16 years through radio, literature, CD/DVD, Internet, and text message. His wife, Doris, is one of the translators of Today into the Chinese language, which now has a circulation of more than 45,000 copies.
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