Sunday, April 8, 2012

Obsessed with Death?

God has a good deal to say about death.   In fact, you could argue that God is obsessed with death.
It started with Adam & Eve.  They were told not to eat the forbidden fruit---or they would die.  Then men had to kill a lamb as a sacrifice for their sins.  At Passover, the Israelites were told to kill a lamb and put it's blood on the doorposts of their houses and the death angel would pass over their house.  The firstborn of Egypt died that night--because there was no blood.  We were told that a redeemer would come to save us from our sins--but that he would die.  Jesus waited while one of his best friends died.  Jesus died.  We're told that unless a seed dies, it won't germinate.  God says we're dead in our sins.  The wages for our sin is death.  Death, death, and more death!

But is death the end?  If it is...we have no hope.

That's the glory of the tomb of Jesus.  It's empty!  Jesus killed death.

1 Corinthians 15:54
And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory.
1 Corinthians 15:26
The last enemy to be subdued and abolished is death.



I'd never read that last verse in this way before.  Our last enemy--death--has already been subdued.  Death had to happen.  But it happened so that LIFE would be available to all of us.  And it's still available.   All you have to do is die.  Die to your sin, die to your old way of life, die to yourself.  And when you do, you will live.



John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
John 6:40
For this is My Father's will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is what my mind is filled with this Easter.  The Truth is, our last enemy--DEATH--has been killed.  We have the VICTORY!  There is LIFE--Jesus rose from the grave.  His tomb is empty today.  And He offers life to each of us.  Eternal life.

Is God obsessed with death?  Only to draw us to His life--to make us hungry for LIFE!  To show us there is abundant life beyond the death that's already been killed.

    2 comments:

    Ronnie said...

    Amen and Amen!!! Love this insight - Death HAS been defeated!!! Praise Jesus and thanks for sharing!

    Tina said...

    Beautiful, Becky!