What is death? The answer seems obvious. In today’s understanding, death means the cessation of life. While God’s Word doesn’t deny this, it takes a different approach. The Bible reveals that death is separation: from ourselves, from others, and from God.
From Ourselves
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” – James 2:26
As odd as this sounds, it’s true. Death separates us from ourselves. It’s a condition God never intended for humanity.
From Others
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13
How do you feel at the funeral of a loved one? Grief hurts, that sense of loss is palpable, even searing. The apostle Paul hints at our hope, but the separation from a relative or close friends stings.
From God
“For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.” – Isaiah 38:18
God’s people in the days of the Old Testament feared death because they’d miss out on the presence of God. That’s why they painted Sheol (the abode of the dead) with such dreary tones.
But God has done something about this. The gospel proclaims that Jesus has defeated death! Through the cross and the empty tomb, we’re no longer separated:
From Ourselves
“It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” – 1 Corinthians 15:44
“It has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” – 2 Timothy 1:10
God offers us a better future than eternity as disembodied spirits. Christ’s resurrection guarantees our own, and life in this glorious condition endures. It’s everlasting!
From Others
“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:4
In the New Jerusalem which unites heaven and earth, the righteous will shed no tears. The Lord will restore and perfect all relationships. A homecoming party beyond imagination!
From God
“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove His people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” – Isaiah 25:8
And we will enjoy God’s presence forever. Wherever we go, we will be with Him; whatever we do, we will engage with Him. Our faith will yield to sight; we will see Jesus and be with Him without end!
Application
Jesus has vanquished the enemy of our souls. The devil no longer has a claim over us because the Lord substituted His life for ours.
“The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” – 1 John 3:8
“Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil– 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” – Hebrews 2:14-15
Each day is a chance for us the Spirit to defeat everyone and everything arrayed against us. In time, even death will fall. God will not fail us!
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” – 1 Corinthians 15:26
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