Today's reading made me think about death. I believe that everyone fears death. Some people are more so than others. Death is inevitable. Whether you are Christian or not death visits everyone. however for Christians who have been resurrected with Christ, death is not loss of life but gaining of eternity with Christ. We have been reading the passages regarding Jesus appeared to various people after he resurrected. Jesus appeared to his loved ones and empowered them with same power that resurrected Christ. Jesus Christ conquered the death. Whoever believe the risen Lord, death has no authority over them nor power to put them in captive.
Reading John 11:17-44, famous story about Lazarus, I put myself in Lazarus'shose. I was Lazarus died in my transgression. But Jesus called out, "Come Out" I am no longer a lifeless corp but through power of Christ I am alive. Jesus breathed in me a new life. This new life will continue on 'til eternity.
I'm reminded of Paul's words when he was approaching his own death. In 2 Timothy 4:7 he said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." What a statement! I want to be able to say that when I'm about to die without any regrets. We need to be reminded of this obvious fact that we will die and remember to live for eternity not for the moment.
ReplyDeletethanks for your post, kwijung. we are, as you remind us, raised from the dead to eternal life. i used to think of eternal life as only life after death, but i don't think that's right anymore. eternal life means life in christ the moment that you believe and are forgiven of your sins. eternal life is not just the length of your life (those in hell, after all, have eternal life too). eternal life is about the new nature, the life reborn--it is a description of the quality of your life after regeneration.
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