ONE DIES, THE OTHER LIVES

There are some decisions mere humans have had to make that are unimaginably tragic. Think of the husband whose wife is in labor: Complications develop. The concern is in the doctor's face and in the frantic movements of the nurses. The doctor arises from his stool, takes off his latex gloves and motions for the father to follow him. Outside in the hall, the doctor reveals that things have become critical. He briefly explains the medical crises and then drops the bombshell of the dilemma that demands an immediate decision: "We can save either the mother or the child but not both. If we let that baby be born alive, Mom is going to die. If we save Mom, we must take the baby right now, but the baby will not survive. You must tell us quickly." For the child to live Mom must die. When the day is done one died that the other might live. Even with the joy of a saved life, there is the awful grief of the loss of the other to death. It is true that Jesus died that we might live. But, it is also true that He rose from the dead. He died that we might live, yet He lives! What a wonderful truth. He died that I might live; yet, He lives. He did not say, "Because I die, you shall live." He said, "Because I live, you shall live also." Live, also! Live as He lives. He decide to die that we might live. Yet, He lives that we might live as He lives!