DEATH
29th May 2019
We all face death - but for the Christian we have already passed from death into life. The fear of death with the prospect of eternal judgement was removed when we accepted that Jesus died so that we might live. He took the punishment I deserved on Calvary, He pronounced the “Not Guilty” verdict on me because I trusted Him for the salvation I desperately needed.
The thief on the cross alongside Jesus had no time to repent of his criminal life, he simply asked that Jesus would remember him when He came into his Kingdom - Jesus’ response was immediate and life giving, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Salvation is found in Jesus, not in a formula or repetition of a certain prayer or ritual. Jesus talking of Himself declared, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” In the Old Testament when the Israelites were bitten by snakes and dying as a result, Moses was told by God to make an image of a snake, place it on a pole for all to see, and those who looked at it would live. Jesus refers to this and tells us that if we look at Him in faith in the same way, we will live.
Life and victory over death comes from Jesus who conquered death, fulfilled the law, and will give eternal life to all who receive Him. Some like the thief, receive Him and very soon pass into eternity. They have no time to revel in His love, provision, patience - they hardly know Him, but will spend eternity marvelling at His rescue plan for them personally and for all who receive Him. Death is not the end, rather the beginning. Of course, there is grief and sadness, loss and adjustment for those who are left behind, but we have the hope and certainty that our loved ones are with their Lord.
We are at a time in life where death is happening all around us, but we do not sorrow as those who have no hope. Our loved ones are fully alive in the eternal presence of Jesus. An elderly relative recently said to her daughter, “When you hear I am gone, don’t grieve, rejoice, I shall be home.”
When Jonathan, King David’s friend faced the possibility of David taking his father Saul’s kingship and the possibility of his own death in the conflict, he asked David to covenant to care for his family - and David did.
I am reminded that we are commanded to care for the widows and orphans, and be there to support. We can’t necessarily “fix” anything, but we can be there in prayer and to meet practical needs.
Nothing can prepare us for death, but we need to know personally that we have a sure and certain hope of eternal life, and because of that we can life every day in the fulness of the gift of life.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
