The headlines in our native newspaper said the grim info:
“Demise toll reaches 2 million.”
The article then started with these disturbing phrases: “The worldwide demise toll from covid antigen rapid test topped 2 million Friday, crossing the brink amid a vaccine rollout so immense however so uneven that in some nations there may be actual hope of vanquishing the outbreak, whereas in different, less-developed elements of the world, it appears a far-off dream.”
How do you react to information like that?
Do you ever take into consideration demise? It has been within the information for the previous yr in a means I’ve by no means seen in my lifetime. We hear about it always. The media retains telling us, each day, how many individuals died the day earlier than.
It is also one of many fundamental themes of the Bible. “Individuals are destined to die as soon as, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Jesus talked about demise repeatedly. “I advised you that you’d die in your sins; if you don’t imagine that I’m he, you’ll certainly die in your sins” (John 8:24).
The aim of this text is to ask you a easy query: Are you afraid to die?
Worry of demise is a typical expertise. It is a part of the human situation. However thanks be to God, Jesus got here to save lots of us from each demise itself and the worry of demise.
“For the reason that kids have flesh and blood, he too shared of their humanity in order that by his demise he would possibly break the facility of him who holds the facility of death-that is, the devil- and free those that all their lives have been held in slavery by their worry of demise” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
In line with Scripture, many individuals are slaves to the worry of demise. Wow. That is fairly a press release. And the occasions of the previous yr bear witness to that actuality, do not they?
How about you? Are you afraid to die? I pose that query as a result of I care about you and your everlasting future.
The wonderful fact of the verses quoted above is how Jesus liberates us from the worry of demise. Did you discover the important thing phrase? “By his demise.” It’s by way of His personal demise that Jesus units us free from our worry of demise. As a result of He died, we are able to reside ceaselessly. And the hope of everlasting life in Christ supplies the life-changing safety we have to face demise with out worry. Amen?
In closing, right here is Decision #9 from Jonathan’s Edwards well-known record of 70 resolutions: “Resolved, to suppose a lot on all events of my very own dying, and of the frequent circumstances which attend demise.” Considering a lot about demise motivates me to suppose a lot about residing every day as if will probably be my final. It simply could also be.