By David ReayThursday 2 Apr 2020LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 2 minutes
For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (NLT)
The old saying was that there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. With a clever accountant and a bit of financial arranging we may avoid taxes. Which leaves death, something we don’t like talking about but which is going to eventually happen to each of us.
Those who embrace the goodness and mercy of Jesus will die, unless they happen to be alive when he winds up this world’s present season. Being a Christian doesn’t stop you from dying, but it means that death is not the end. It is not fatal. It is the end of a chapter of your life story not the end of the story itself.
If I cling to Jesus, I share in his resurrection and his eternal presence with God. Just as Jesus died and then lived, so do I. My imperfections would normally not allow me to be with a perfect God, but these imperfections are somehow ‘clothed’ with the perfection of Jesus.
All this affects how I live my life here and now. I don’t sit back waiting for this new perfected life to begin. I live for Jesus now. Another old saying is that we are to live as people who are prepared to die, and to die as people who are prepared to live.
Blessings
David