Our world, or at least our nation, is in a panic about death right now. And why wouldn't they be? With news reports claiming that hundreds of thousands of people could die from COVID-19 before it's all said and done, and with daily reports of how many have died, the fear of death is front and center for the world to be concerned with. Allow me, if I may for a few moments, to share some extremely fortifying verses of Scripture with you in this time. Perhaps your fear may be eased or maybe you'll be used by the Lord to speak into someone else's life.
Eschatology, a big word with a simple meaning. The dictionary on my computer defines it this way, "the part of theology (the study of God) concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind." Now that sounds ominous and gloomy, and it is if you're not in right standing with God. However, don't hang your head in despair! Through the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross and because of his resurrection that is about to be celebrated around the world, those who have by faith believed in Christ as the risen Son of God, confessing and submitting to Him as Lord can say, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Ecclesiastes 3:2 says that there is "a time to be born and a time to die." None of us imagined a world-wide pandemic virus that would be what would bring that time about for so many, but it would seem that it has. In all that he suffered, Job praised God by saying, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21). God has created and given life to every living being. As such, the lives that are being claimed by this virus are the Lord's to take away. Now personally I believe the greater fear we see now is not death itself, but rather the truth that Ecclesiastes 3:11 brings out; "he has put eternity into man's heart." We want to know what's going to happen when we die, but we reject the only truth that tells us: Gods Word! Hebrews 9:27 says, "it is appointed for man to die once and after that comes the judgement." When this life is over, we will enter into eternity. We either enter into the rest of the Lord or the torment of hell. Matthew 25:32-34, and 41, tell us that when Jesus comes, he will gather all the nations before himself and separate the people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats, placing the sheep to his right and the goats to his left. He will say to those on his right, "enter the kingdom prepared for you" and to those on his left, "depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire."
If you have read this far, don't stop. This is the precise moment that God has been leading you to. This is why those who have been saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ can say, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" because "Death has been swallowed up in victory." The victory is over sin and death that Jesus Christ won on the cross and the curse that he broke through the power of his resurrection. This is why the world is gripped by fear right now. Not because of a virus, but because a virus has brought us face to face with a victory that we cannot achieve on our own. This victory is precisely how you can be freed from the grip of fear and further set free from the curse of sin and death! The Bible says, in Romans 10:9, "if you confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." The Gospel is that simple. Confess, believe, repent of sin and living life contrary to God, and submit to living according to His Word.
If I can answer any questions you may have or talk with you further about any of this, please contact me! My email is below, or you can call or text (989) 372-0750. Whatever it takes, I would love to talk with you about this! If while reading this you have made a decision in your life regarding Jesus Christ, please let us know! We'd love to help you along in this new journey.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)