GOD’S WORD FOR JUNE 5

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

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DYING TO LIVE

Revelation 21:4

“Death shall be no more.”

D.L. Moody

Someone said to a person dying:  “Well, you are in the land of the living yet.”  “No,” said he, “I m in the land of the dying, but I am going to the land of the living;  They live there and never die.” Here and now is the land of sin and death and tears, but up yonder they never die.  It is perpetual life; it is unceasing joy.

  ERWIN LUTZER

Death is not really the enemy it appears to be on this side of the curtain.  Is it mysterious and fearful?  Yes!  Entering that vast unknown?  Yes!  Hamlet wrestled with the possibility of suicide, and then he concluded, “For in that sleep of death what dreams may come…when we have shuffled of this mortal coil, “  What he’s saying is, “I’d like to commit suicide, but perhaps what lies on the other side is worse than what I’m experiencing here.”

Contrast this with the words of Paul, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21).  Hamlet said, “Live or die, I lose.”  Paul said, “Live or die, I win.”

What lies on the other side for the believer?  Death is fearsome; it is still our enemy, mostly because we fear the unseen.    It ruptures relationships.  It brings tears.  It brings loneliness and heartache.  That’s on THIS side of the curtain.  But on the other side, there is HAPPINESS, BLISS, BEING WITH CHRIST—–IN HIS PRESENCE FOREVER!!!

All of us want to live as long as we possibly can, but when God’s number strikes, when the moment comes for believers to enter into eternity, He will be there to meet us.  He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us, and thus, death has lost its sting.

(I think perhaps one of the best pictures of Christ’s victory on the cross over death is this story:   A father and young son were driving home, returning from the funeral of the mother of the child.   The father was explaining to his son that Mommy is in heaven now, and that death now, for the believer, is a good thing because Jesus changed death, and that’s why we know Mommy is happy with Jesus.   Just then the boy started screaming because a bee had gotten into the car and was buzzing around his head.  The father reached over and caught the bee in his hand and held it a few minutes, then let it go.  “Daddy, why did you let it go, I’m afraid!”

“You don’t need to be afraid of that bee anymore, it can’t hurt you.  It’s the same bee, and looks the same, but it’s harmless now.”

Then he showed his son his hand, with the bee’s stinger still stuck in it, and beginning to swell.   “That, my son is what Jesus did for believers, and why your mom is happier now than she ever could be here.  He “took the sting out of death.”—1 Corinthians 15:55)

PRAYER

Father, when the time comes, please give me the grace to die with the faith and anticipation of seeing You face to face.

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1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law;  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

We do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.   For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

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Romans 14:8

If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

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Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

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John 11:25-26

Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’

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Revelation 21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

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Philippians 1:21

 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

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