It has been a rather tumultuous week with some friends diagnosed with serious and even life-threatening illnesses. Where do we turn or to whom do we turn?
This coming week our local church fellowship as well as many other friends will come together for a thanksgiving service for the life of a dear brother and friend in Christ. Death is never an appealing subject to think or speak about. The thought that our bodies, although fearfully and wonderfully made, will one day fail us, can be a scary thought.
That thought alone has caused governments and individuals to spend millions to try and avoid death and find the key to eternal life. Just recently, Channel 9, an Australian TV station, has started a new documentary entitled, “Do you want to live forever?” Well, it is a rather silly question, for most people would love to live forever.
Sadly though, even the best attempts without acknowledgment of the true God, the giver of life, cannot answer life’s essential questions. “Who am I? Where am I from? Where do I go when I die?”
Adam and Eve tried to answer that question when they listened to the seductive lie of Satan which welcomed sin and death into the world, “Eat the fruit – You will not die – You will be like God” (emphasis added).
It seems fair to say that many people today still believe that lie. They attempt to be ‘god’ over their lives, trying desperately to determine their own meaning for life and to live forever. Some people try doing it with strenuous exercise, others with strict diets, and still others with meditation and positive thinking techniques.
Some of these things may add quality to our lives, but the Scriptures remind us that we cannot add a single moment to the length of our days (Psalm 139:16; Mat 6:25).
Now most people, including Christians, have times when they just want to hide from their troubling thoughts and the numbing fear of death. So, how privileged are we and how good is it to know that God has not kept us in the dark about life and more importantly eternal life for He has given us the answer in Jesus Christ. So, when troubling times or the numbing fear of death sneaks in, may I encourage you to run to Him. It’s never too late!
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, not least death itself! (1 Jn 3:8). By His death and resurrection, He has taken our sin and rebellion upon Himself and made our record clean. And God’s trustworthy word tells us that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Rom 10:9). But there is still more.
By the power of His Holy Spirit, we are no longer slaves to sin. His Holy Spirit comforts and reminds us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus and the fear of death has been removed. God no longer sees us as objects of wrath, but as His beloved children, clothed in the righteousness of His Son. Hallelujah!
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain ( 1Cor 15:55ff). JZ