Verse: Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Message: Death is a difficult word for many people to hear. Some of us have experienced an incredible level of anguish when the ones we spent our life loving died. We greatly miss those who loved us and those who’s company we so enjoyed throughout life. We understand the finality that is associated with death. We understand the pain associated with it as well. We experience the loneliness that comes after death happens. And yet intellectually we know that death is a process of life. Why? It is because of the sin that entered the world at the time of Adam and Eve. It is sin that has caused the entire earth to decay. Sin changed life on earth from what it once was created to be…perfect. Instead of eternal life on earth, now plants began to die, animals began to kill each other for survival, and humans committed unthinkable acts of murder. This was now the system instituted on earth. Perfection was gone and now the cycle of life and death began.
On the Friday that Jesus died on a cross, He finished what He came to earth to do (the will of His Father). Jesus knew the earthly process of life and death, and it was difficult even for Him. If we believe that Jesus is God, we can sometimes get the impression that because He was God in a human shell, His death experience was easier or less scary then ours will be. But it wasn’t. Just like everyone else, Jesus experienced terrible pain, the stopping of His heart, gasping for His last breath and the feeling of loneliness. Yet He knew this was the way His Father said it had to be in order to pass to eternal life. Jesus knew that death was not the end. He suffered death with a peace and a faith that His Fathers hands were stretched out to Him. And He knew that the very moment He fell in death, God was right there to catch Him. He knew that His momentary pain and loneliness would end the second He died. He could see the light of His father shining though the tunnel of death when He passed from this earth into eternal life.
We must all face a certain death. Are we prepared to experience it? Have we ever paused and considered our own death? What will we feel? Where will we go? In whose arms will we fall into when we take our last breath? Jesus died, but it was not the end. It was another step that had to be taken in order to move from this sinful world into a perfect heaven. He was the first. Not to die, but to enter heaven before the throne of God as a victor. He had conquered death in perfection. He was born into the world through the Holy Spirit, He lived a perfect life, and He entered eternal glory in victory. Although death is inevitable, we can face it with security and peace if we have laid our life surrendered to the will of God. Jesus showed us the way. He surrendered His life, every step of it, to the will of God the Father. The question is, will you?
Prayer: “Today God, I put my faith in You. I believe that You are on the other side of this life waiting to catch those who put their faith and trust in Jesus the Messiah. I believe God, that Your son Jesus was born of You, lived perfectly and died without sin. I believe that He was the first to enter eternity in perfection. I believe that through His death, I can have life. Thank you God, for loving me so much that you would send your son to die for me and for all those who love you and follow your will.”
Going Deeper: Isaiah 53, Mark 15:22-39, and Romans 5:1-19
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