The Truth About Death
No matter what part of this planet you live on, how well you take care of your body, or how much money is in your bank account, there is no escaping death.
Sound a little depressing? Sure. But there’s still good news! Really, really good news.
For those who belong to Christ, we have a hope that’s beyond this world…
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”
Romans 8:11 NLT
Death is the greatest tool of our enemy, which is why Jesus came to defeat it. That’s why He became human, took the ultimate punishment, and put death in its rightful place—under the authority and dominion of God.
Yes, life is fleeting, but death is only temporary. And the Spirit of God can do what no human can—give life to the lifeless and redeem what has been lost.
The truth about death is that it’s not the end of the story.
Soon, God will wipe away every tear and make all things new. Just as a baby is given the miraculous and mysterious breath of life, His Spirit will revive the seemingly perished and bring the dead back to life.
Death is not the end of the story. For all who belong to Christ, that is the really, really good news.
Prayer and Praise
Throughout our lives, we will all experience both suffering and joy. We'll have times of great grief and times of overwhelming happiness. Sometimes, these experiences will happen in separate seasons. But at other times, they will merge at the same time.
In either case, James expected Christians to come to God. If someone was suffering, prayer was the call to action. If someone was cheerful, praise was the clear next step.
This might seem obvious, but when suffering clouds our thinking, we can sometimes forget to prioritize prayer. And when things are going well and life is good at the moment, it’s easy to just enjoy the season and not stop to praise God. But every season of life is an opportunity to put into practice what James wrote about…
When we are suffering, let us pray. When those around us are suffering, let us pray. When we are feeling blessed or cheerful, let us thank God. When others are happy, let us praise God and celebrate with them.
In every circumstance ...