Love Is Worth Living For

This is the story  behind my song, Love Is Worth Living For, from the worship recording, This Is My Destiny. It seemed an appropriate song for Independence Day. The song came to me on September 21, 1995.

In September of 1995, my pastor called me and asked if I would like to see the movie “Braveheart”. I had missed the original theatrical release when it had first come out. This was the second theatrical release. You know. The one when movies that are up for an academy award are re-released to help bolster the film’s chances for an Oscar. Thinking this would be a good opportunity for a ‘guy’s night out’ I was simply looking forward to some good fellowship. Little did I know of what God truly had in store for me that evening.

This movie is based on the life of Sir William Wallace, a man who lived in thirteenth century Scotland. This was a time of English domination of that small country. The movie describes not only the violent deaths that many men faced and faced well but also portrayed the truth that living without freedom is not really living at all. Sir William simply lives his life in pursuit of freedom and in calling others to see their need for that freedom. With his dying breath his cry was ‘Freedom!’…at least that is the movie version!

As I left the theater, I had to walk alone to my car which was completely on the other side of the mall. Being locked out of the mall, I could not walk through so I had to walk around the entire mall. I began to cry out to God because I was overwhelmed with tremendous loneliness. Getting in my car and beginning the 20 mile drive home I began to weep…and I did not know why…and I could not stop.

I began to ask God why I was so affected by this movie. He spoke to my heart that I needed to see myself as William Wallace…that my life was just like his. I had been called to call men to their freedom…and in so doing my very life could be required to spread that freedom to others…but that my freedom was not only worth living for…but worth dying for as well. To live is to know Christ, but to die is to be free of the chains of this fleshly world, and to give me freedom to know Him even more intimately than this life allows. When I got home from the movie, I went straight to my keyboard and this song was birthed as I thought about my life and God’s grace to live it well…and to one day die well…

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 NASB

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 NASB

Through all these years since my deliverance on November 7, 1981, my testimony has been either cheered or jeered. I began sharing my story publicly in July of 1988 and have had many moments since that time in which I have been very publicly derided and many moments in which I have feared bodily harm.

What has kept me going? Remembering the many times from my youth when I hoped someone would tell me freedom was possible and no one ever did. I had believed a lie my entire life up until that point. I had to recognize that I had been deceived. Reality was that I did not want to be in bondage to same sex attraction.

It was not until 1981 that I ran into someone who told me freedom - a new identity in Christ - was possible…and their love and kindness led me to freedom in Christ. I keep telling my story because I want to help as many as I possibly can discover freedom and identity in Jesus Christ. God’s challenge to me was simple.

In Psalm 107 He tells the redeemed to ‘say so’. In other words, if we who have been redeemed don’t say what we have been redeemed from, how will those in the same bondage going to know freedom is even possible?

In today’s cancel culture I have been cancelled - silenced - in many ways…but I do not plan to keep silent. There are so many who desire freedom from unwanted same sex attraction - so many who reach out for help. I tell them this: knowing Jesus Christ intimately is worth any struggle I have been through in this life. My job is not to save or redeem anyone. My job is to point people to Jesus and let HIM worry about saving and setting them free.

Remember, the real battleground of life is the battleground of our minds. It is through relationship with Jesus Christ that I have learned how to renew my mind by replacing my old thoughts with new thoughts. As I have changed the way I think, my attitudes have changed; my behavior has changed; and temptation no longer defines me. I am who my Father God says I am. It is hard work. It requires spiritual warfare…but freedom is worth the work and warfare required to attain it. The love of Christ really is worth living for…really worth dying for.

Dennis Jernigan

If you are struggling with unwanted temptations of any kind, watch the documentary Sing Over Me on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rAYkFQ4iHZ8 and read the free ebook called Victim to Victor. Use this link to download that ebook: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/mgzkqqaqti

To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song, Love Is Worth Living For, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/love-is-worth-living-for/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/04/05/01/13/castle-2203692_1280.jpg