The Power of the Breath of Life
TEXT:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4).
The tour guide finished his speech, “We will never know the exact place of our Lord’s burial, but as far as historians can determine, this is the recognized site.”
The line in front of the ornate tomb inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem inched forward as only a handful of tourists were admitted into the tomb.
I bowed as I walked through the doorway into the inner chamber and kneeled in front of the slab that tradition says was the rock on which our Lord was placed. My mind raced backward to all the gravesides I had ever stood at—my grandparents, parents, family members, friends, fellow church members, classmates—and I felt sorrow.
Then I looked up and I was alone in the tomb; no other person had been allowed to enter. A chill shot down my spine as I read the words on the banner draped over the cold stone, “Christos Anesti”—Christ is Risen!
Then I felt a peace. This tomb was empty; our Lord defeated death! The tombs of all those I remembered are also empty, containing only their physical body; their spirits, their souls are walking with Christ. He defeated the grave—for them—for me—for all believers! Yes, Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!
That is the power of eternal life.
Our place in heaven is already prepared; there is nothing we can do to earn eternal life. It is a gift freely given.
To express a fear of death is the typical human reaction. Why do we not have to fear death?
How can knowing that our place in heaven is not dependent on what we do influence how we live our life on this earth?
“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me” (Philippians 1:18b-26).
Paul is ready to depart this earth, yet he is also content to stay. He reasons that if he presses on in this world he will continue to share Christ and encourage believers through his ministry. However, if he dies he will live with Christ eternally.
How can this conviction give us the power to face illness, persecution, suffering, or other trials?
What would be harder, to die for Christ or to live for Christ?
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
“If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:1-7).
Our eternal life is made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection. By God’s grace, baptismal waters drown the sinful person and now we have the power of eternal life.
As long as we live on this earth we will be tempted by the world, the devil and our old sinful nature. Why do we not have to fear these temptations?
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).
In these words, written by John, we are given a glimpse of what eternal life will be like for the Christian. These days, society is fascinated by the concept of eternity. In fact, whole industries and modes of thought have been dedicated to it: books, movies, plays, Web sites, religious movements … you name it, there’s somebody’s thinking about it.
How important is it that we know and understand every detail of our eternal life?
What comfort and hope do you take from the glimpse we see in God’s revelation?
How can we live so that others will see this comfort and hope?
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have given us The Word of eternal life. Thank You. Please give us the power to share this Word with our family, our friends, our neighborhood, and all whom we meet. We ask for Your strength to live for You or to die for You. Not our will, Lord, but Yours be done. In Your Name we pray. Amen.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4).
The tour guide finished his speech, “We will never know the exact place of our Lord’s burial, but as far as historians can determine, this is the recognized site.”
The line in front of the ornate tomb inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem inched forward as only a handful of tourists were admitted into the tomb.
I bowed as I walked through the doorway into the inner chamber and kneeled in front of the slab that tradition says was the rock on which our Lord was placed. My mind raced backward to all the gravesides I had ever stood at—my grandparents, parents, family members, friends, fellow church members, classmates—and I felt sorrow.
Then I looked up and I was alone in the tomb; no other person had been allowed to enter. A chill shot down my spine as I read the words on the banner draped over the cold stone, “Christos Anesti”—Christ is Risen!
Then I felt a peace. This tomb was empty; our Lord defeated death! The tombs of all those I remembered are also empty, containing only their physical body; their spirits, their souls are walking with Christ. He defeated the grave—for them—for me—for all believers! Yes, Christ is Risen! Hallelujah!
That is the power of eternal life.
Our place in heaven is already prepared; there is nothing we can do to earn eternal life. It is a gift freely given.
To express a fear of death is the typical human reaction. Why do we not have to fear death?
How can knowing that our place in heaven is not dependent on what we do influence how we live our life on this earth?
“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me” (Philippians 1:18b-26).
Paul is ready to depart this earth, yet he is also content to stay. He reasons that if he presses on in this world he will continue to share Christ and encourage believers through his ministry. However, if he dies he will live with Christ eternally.
How can this conviction give us the power to face illness, persecution, suffering, or other trials?
What would be harder, to die for Christ or to live for Christ?
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
“If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:1-7).
Our eternal life is made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection. By God’s grace, baptismal waters drown the sinful person and now we have the power of eternal life.
As long as we live on this earth we will be tempted by the world, the devil and our old sinful nature. Why do we not have to fear these temptations?
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).
In these words, written by John, we are given a glimpse of what eternal life will be like for the Christian. These days, society is fascinated by the concept of eternity. In fact, whole industries and modes of thought have been dedicated to it: books, movies, plays, Web sites, religious movements … you name it, there’s somebody’s thinking about it.
How important is it that we know and understand every detail of our eternal life?
What comfort and hope do you take from the glimpse we see in God’s revelation?
How can we live so that others will see this comfort and hope?
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have given us The Word of eternal life. Thank You. Please give us the power to share this Word with our family, our friends, our neighborhood, and all whom we meet. We ask for Your strength to live for You or to die for You. Not our will, Lord, but Yours be done. In Your Name we pray. Amen.