Today I had the opportunity to minister to a family who had lost a dear husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. This same man was also one that many called "Pastor" during his life. He served in WWII, and then led a life in which he served God and God's people in the office of the ministry.
Death calls to all of us. It doesn't matter the life that we live. Death will inevitably come to visit us. Only one has ever claimed to have a cure for death, and even in that, He didn't say that it made you immune to death. He said death would be overcome, and He did it Himself by not only dying, but by rising back to life. Now, death no longer has any claim or hold on Him. And because of who He is, He has the power and authority to extend that same gift to any that He so chooses.
Death calls to all of us. It's frightening, and for good reason. Death is unnatural. God did not create His creation with any intent of death being a part of it. However, sin demands death. Disobedience demands death. Justice demands death. And since God is a God of perfect justice, when He looks upon a sinful creation, He has to demand death.
The thing is, God is not content to simply let death call to us and make an end of us. Jesus rose from the dead to live a new life, one that never ends, and is perfect in all respects. And Jesus sends His Spirit to give that gift of new life to those who receive it. While that call does call for a change in our lives, that change is a result of the gift we receive, and not the means by which we receive this gift. It remains a gift that Jesus gives, and that He desires to extend to every single one of His human creation.
That's where the joy came in for today, for the family who said goodbye. In reality, it isn't goodbye. It's "see you soon." God doesn't do away with death, but instead, He changes it. For His redeemed, faithful people, death becomes a gateway to a new, perfect, everlasting life, and not THE END. It ushers in a new life, not merely bringing one to an end.
Death calls. I not only hope and pray that you have heard the voice of the one who conquered death when death comes calling to you, but that you also find ways to share that message and declare it in your life to others. The reason that this is so important: Death will call all of us. And Jesus wants all to know that they can have perfect, everlasting life, through what He has done for them. Just like that message was in the life and mouth and heart of the servant to whom we said "goodbye" today, may that same message be in all of our lives and mouths and hearts.
Death calls to all of us. It doesn't matter the life that we live. Death will inevitably come to visit us. Only one has ever claimed to have a cure for death, and even in that, He didn't say that it made you immune to death. He said death would be overcome, and He did it Himself by not only dying, but by rising back to life. Now, death no longer has any claim or hold on Him. And because of who He is, He has the power and authority to extend that same gift to any that He so chooses.
Death calls to all of us. It's frightening, and for good reason. Death is unnatural. God did not create His creation with any intent of death being a part of it. However, sin demands death. Disobedience demands death. Justice demands death. And since God is a God of perfect justice, when He looks upon a sinful creation, He has to demand death.
The thing is, God is not content to simply let death call to us and make an end of us. Jesus rose from the dead to live a new life, one that never ends, and is perfect in all respects. And Jesus sends His Spirit to give that gift of new life to those who receive it. While that call does call for a change in our lives, that change is a result of the gift we receive, and not the means by which we receive this gift. It remains a gift that Jesus gives, and that He desires to extend to every single one of His human creation.
That's where the joy came in for today, for the family who said goodbye. In reality, it isn't goodbye. It's "see you soon." God doesn't do away with death, but instead, He changes it. For His redeemed, faithful people, death becomes a gateway to a new, perfect, everlasting life, and not THE END. It ushers in a new life, not merely bringing one to an end.
Death calls. I not only hope and pray that you have heard the voice of the one who conquered death when death comes calling to you, but that you also find ways to share that message and declare it in your life to others. The reason that this is so important: Death will call all of us. And Jesus wants all to know that they can have perfect, everlasting life, through what He has done for them. Just like that message was in the life and mouth and heart of the servant to whom we said "goodbye" today, may that same message be in all of our lives and mouths and hearts.
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