19th June 2024
Life after death
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NKJV)
The theme of life and death is revealed by God from Genesis to Revelation, but no one likes to talk about death because it generates thoughts of our own mortality. The grim reality in life is that a day will come when we are no longer alive (Hebrews 9:27-28). We are appointed to die once, but salvation is offered to us through the Lord Jesus Christ: ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 6:23).
The Bible reveals that God is the life giver, and wants us to have life eternal. He created us to give us His glory as we read in Isaiah. 43:7: “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
But why do we die? From the beginning, God desired to give us eternal life, but our parents believed the lie of the devil and passed on death to all humanity, as revealed in Romans 5:12: ‘Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—’
However, because of Jesus, we are no longer to fear death: ‘But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.’ (Hebrews 2:9). Hebrews 2 continues: ‘Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.’ (Hebrews 2:14-15).
We need not fear death for Jesus our Lord has abolished death. In 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, there are details that encourage us: Christians will all be changed ‘…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye’, and ‘…the dead will be raised incorruptible’ (v.52); we will ‘…put on immortality…’ (v.53), and “Death is swallowed up in victory” (v.54).
Job asked, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). And he answers, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth” ( Job 19:25). We can confidently look forward to a time when there will be no more death, it is time to rejoice: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17). I cannot imagine what God has prepared for our future glory. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer
Abba Father, I thank you for this hope of eternal life in Your presence. Lord Jesus is our hope of glory. In His name I pray and give thanks, Amen.
Study by Natu Moti
About the writer:
Natu Moti is a deacon in the Birmingham congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Gracecom Birmingham
All Saints Church
George Road
Birmingham B23 7QB
Meeting time:
Saturday 1.00 pm
Local congregational contact:
David Gibbs
Email: birmingham@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church