I’ll Die Upon That Hill

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.—Colossians 1:13-14

So many people in our splintering society have dug their heels deep into social issues—for instance, sexual orientation and identification, injustice and inequality—and have proclaimed, “I’ll die upon that hill.” But what we fail to realize is that Someone already did. If we would only accept that reality, our current reality would look much different.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.—1 Peter 3:18

It was hatred, rebellion, prejudice, injustice, greed, lying, substance abuse, sexual sin, covetousness, idolatry, violence—to name a few—that sent Jesus to the cross. He died to set us free from the sins that exalt themselves against the knowledge of Him. 

If we all lived in the shadow of that hill on which He died, there would be no division or violence or wickedness of any kind. Our cities would not be erupting in chaos. Our conversations would not be fueled by anger and self-righteousness. Our solutions would not be found coming from the mouths of pundits or keyboard warriors. Our hope would not rest in the power of the judiciary or the electorate.

Jesus is our only true source of peace. He is our living hope. He is our righteousness. He is holy and perfect. He is love and justice, and His word is tried and true. He died once for all on Calvary, yes; but He died upon every hill on which we choose to take a stand. And because He and He alone is righteous, His death on that hill is the only one that counts.

If we’re to take a stand, let us stand for what is right and what is good. Let us stand for Him. And if we’re to die upon a hill, let that hill be Calvary. On that hill, let us die to the sin that enslaves and divides us so we can find life, righteousness, peace and unity in Christ.