My sister works for the local Coroner’s office.  Hers is not a job just anyone can do, and I am proud of her for doing the job so well.   She often receives calls in the middle of the night to go to a scene where a body lies dead.  The first thing the Coroner’s office has to do is to confirm the body is in fact dead.  Sometimes they make that call at the hospital after an ambulance delivers a victim of an accident.  When that victim dies before arriving at the hospital, the Coroner applies the term Dead on Arrival, DOA for short.

From a spiritual perspective, God calls us to pronounce ourselves dead while at the same time living for Him.  This death, of course, is symbolic but vital if we want to grow in our faith. To truly live the life God desires us to live, we have to surrender control of life to God. Paul stated it well in Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

How Do I Declare Myself Spiritually DOA?

Scripture teaches us at least three areas to which we need to consider ourselves dead.  I begin each new day reminding myself that I am DOA – Dead on Awakening – to these three areas of life.

I am dead to myself.  Luke 9:23-27

Jesus had a way of separating the genuine from the pretend.  He declared that those who truly followed Him would deny themselves and take up their own cross.  He included not spots in His roster for spectators.  Jesus made it clear that if anyone intended to follow Him, the way would not be easy or comfortable.

I have observed at least two different kinds of people in today’s Christian circles who declare themselves believers.  On the one hand there are those who identify themselves as Christians but tend to shy away from the more difficult demands of discipleship.  They delight having their name on the list, but generally live day-to-day to satisfy their desires and dreams.

On the other hand, I find believers who are fully engaged in their relationship with Jesus.  These believers have surrendered their earthly existence to God for His purposes.  They commit to making decisions and setting priorities based on God’s purposes for their lives and not their own.  They are willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary for God to receive glory through their lives.

Each morning I remind myself that I am dead to myself. My life is not about me; it’s all about Jesus.  He must increase and I must decrease.  (John 3:30)

I am dead to sin.  Romans 6:5-14

Paul reminded the Roman believers that their new life in Christ enabled them to have victory over sin.  Before their new life in Christ, they had no power over sin and could not resist it. Now, as believers in Jesus they could successfully resist the temptation to sin. In reality, we all still sin, but now only because we choose to surrender to the temptation.

The devil cannot make us sin, but we often give in to temptation because we think it will bring us  pleasure.  Paul calls this “presenting our members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness.”  Before Jesus changed our lives, we had no power to resist sin, but now He gives us grace to resist.

Each morning I remind myself that I am dead to sin.  I do not have to sin, I can… AND SHOULD…resist in the power of Jesus’ name.  (Titus 2:11-12)

I am dead to the world.  Galatians 6:14

If anyone had reason to boast about themselves, it was Paul.  His family was one of the most highly regarded in their community.  He received a prestigious religious education from a renowned teacher.  He had a promising, high-ceiling career.  He lived an exemplary life that brought accolades from his contemporaries.  But in his own words, all of those seemingly important accomplishments amounted to no more than a manure pile compared to his relationship with Jesus. (Philippians 3:4-8).

Paul recognized an irreconcilable difference between the values of his culture and what mattered to Jesus.  That difference in values is even more irreconcilable in our day.  Our culture values things that are an abomination to God.  Our culture hates the things that God values.  We are often left to choose which we would rather please – our culture or Christ.  Each day we make decisions about who opinion of us matters more – Jesus or our contemporaries.

Each day I remind myself that I am dead to the world.  What my culture thinks of me is of no consequence compared to what Christ desires of me.  My aim is not to impress the crowd but please the Lord.  The values, ideas, and definitions of my culture stand in contrast to the good and right God has shown in His word.  I am dead to the world and very much alive to Christ.

So, who will join me?  Will you declare yourself DOA and alive to Christ?