Let’s start…
These dates of birth and death, ornament almost all tombstones as a standard format, provided the deceased has a respectable burial. Every thinking person's heart ponders on the big questions of life for that one moment when they see a lifeless body ready to be descended to the 6 feet hollow of the earth.
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there.” – Job. 1:21
“For you are dust, and to dust you shall return” – Genesis. 3:19
Does life end at the grave?
Does our life add up to this one singularity of “nothingness”?
Does our view of the afterlife simply contain mere speculation and images drawn from the figments of our imagination?
Scripture has a lot to say about the poverty stricken condition of man.
It has a great deal of interest in solving this matter of depravity that has cut into the very fabric of the human nature, so as to render it powerless against an “unseen” enemy – that we call “The Devil”. It promises a great deal, which we can often miss if we have a superficial understanding of the Word and if we are worldly Christians.
The two verses quoted above sets the underlying tone of the view of the scriptures - the fragile and impoverished condition of humanity through the eyes of the authors.
Ecclesiastes (Heb. Qoheleth) has a profound voice in this matter of man’s feeble life and it’s brevity. Life is filled with paradoxes that do not make sense in the author's opinion, and has to be examined from a Wisdom perspective.
All the wisdom cannot help, but wisdom gleaned from life is essential to understand the ultimate wisdom – Fear God and keep his commandments (Ecclesiastes. 12:13-14).
What have you received, Oh Christian?!
My strongest appeal is to the Christian brethren - those who claim Christ has saved them, those who say they are risen with Christ.
Paul has a conditional statement (not one, but many) that proclaims how a person raised with Christ ought to think – 'Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.' (Colossians. 3:1 ff).
It is simple – A Christian thinks and acts differently when it comes to human depravity. This is not some blissful feeling, but friends, this is reality. There is a real act of God in causing you to be revived and alive, so quit walking obliviously saying you don’t “feel” that way.
Take advantage of the Grace of God and walk by faith in the full assurance of Salvation.
God’s answer to death is eternal life.
This great reversal was brought about by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let me draw your attention to Paul's way of thinking about this – 1 Corinthians. 15:13-19. These verses are quite explicit and if there is no REAL resurrection, then you ARE in your sins. But Hallelujah, there has been a historical resurrection and this event (Faith in this act of God) has really caused every believing person to cut death in it’s tracks. Let us breathe this truth into ourselves without hesitation. Bask in the richness of this theology and let the Holy Spirit fill your heart in embracing this truth with the utmost joy!
For a born again person, death is no more the arbiter of life, ETERNAL LIFE is. The life that we have received through Jesus Christ is really working in our bodies and has made us alive to God through Him, so that all the work accomplished on the cross will function without any hindrance in a person as simple as the process of “breathing”!
So when is it?
Eternal life is not a surreal experience that we will be given after the coming of Jesus Christ. Scriptures specifically time and again, in the gospel of John has reiterated the PRESENT reality of eternal life. Thus more than the longevity of life, it is a quality of life (kind of life) that has begun now and will manifest its highest form at the coming and appearance of the Kingdom of the Lord, Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let us look at a small sampling from John, that enables us to understand the “NOW” of eternal life –
John. 1:4-5, 3:15-16, 3:36, 4:14, 5:24-40, 6:35, 10:10, 10:28 and so on…
It is my understanding, that there is an aspect of eternal life that God, in mercy, has granted for the “NOW”. It is our very intimate relationship with the world and things of the world that distances us from this vital reality causing us to walk as though it is a future aspect only.
Just as Adam did not die instantly in a physical way, but did die as death began in him, in the same manner in Christ, life has started and it needs to manifest through our attitudes and even into the great appearance of our Lord.
We are not the living dead anymore. We are alive from the dead!
Eternal Life is now, so pray this way, read your Bibles this way, live this way.
May God bless you and His spirit strengthen you!