The Mark of Death

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.” 1 John 3:14. Therefore it is the love of Christ in us that is the very mark of life. Self-love is the direct opposite; thus it is the very mark of death.

As common sinners, all of us clearly bear the mark of death. When we are born of God, the love of Christ is poured out into our hearts, and we are clearly marked by life. And yet it usually takes time before the remnant of the mark of death is removed! Unfortunately, the rest of this mark, a few corners and lines, is never removed in the majority. You can clearly see the signs of the mark of death as long as they live.

I and me and mine, I need, I like, I want, I do not want, that is your problem, I have nothing to do with that, it would benefit me, I, I, I, I could risk something by doing that, I don’t like it, I must have, etc., etc.—all of these are odors from the kingdom of death, signs of the mark of death.

One brother needs this, and another brother needs that; this would be good for one soul, and that would be good for another soul; this would profit this one, and that would profit that one; I do not need this, and I can also do without that; it doesn’t matter to me; as you wish; how good this would be for this one and that for that one; I wonder who needs this and who might need that; the others, the others; I shall do it; let me do it; may I serve you in any way, etc., etc.—these are lines and contours that are part of the mark of life.

Intolerance, irreconcilability, lack of long-suffering, partiality, envy, jealousy, factionalism, strife, a lack of peaceableness, mercilessness, greed, wanton living, conceit, vanity, coveting earthly things, cowardice, drawing back, suspicion, demands, impatience, a lack of willingness to serve, laziness, fear of man, the desire to be honored, talkativeness and, “preacher’s itch,” backbiting: all of these are evidence of a lack of love. Their source is self-love, and they are therefore a remnant of the mark of death.

Let us strive to remove every trace of the mark of death.