The facts, first. Death was literarily nonexistent until the fall. Death is both spiritual and physical and separates us from God, our Creator. It was introduced as the sentence for sin. Jesus Christ offered Himself as the substitute who redeemed us and paid in full the penalty for our sins. Jesus defeated death when He rose from the dead. Now, death no longer terrorizes the redeemed. Death is our ally whose task now is to take us straight into the presence of our Lord. Death remains a terror to those who have not accepted Christ and the gift of salvation that He offers them. Believers died with Christ and were raised with Him. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). Death is the name of the driver that your Father sent with a limousine to take you from your foster home on earth to your Father and your eternal family in heaven. Rejoice when he comes calling!
