Part Four: Because He Lives

Three days after Jesus died, God’s plan was fulfilled.

His Son rose from the dead.

Supernaturally and inexplicably, He once was dead, but became alive again.

Death was defeated, its power completely abolished. Death was Satan’s biggest power, the tool that could once stop anything, except the Son of God. “Oh, Death, where is your sting? Oh Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

Just as one man's sin brought death, one Man's righteousness brought life. Because Christ arose from the grave, we now have the hope of eternal life! "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22

The consequence of sin is death. So because death was defeated, sin can be overcome. "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:56

"For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:10-11

Roughly forty days after rising from the dead, He ascended into Heaven where He remains at the right hand of His Father, ruling and judging the world in righteousness.

Before He left earth, Jesus gave a powerful command. “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

As Christians, it is our duty to share the gospel. Is it easy? No. Is it fun? Not always.

“We must school and train ourselves to deal personally with the unconverted. We must not excuse ourselves, but force ourselves to the irksome task until it becomes easy.”               - C.H. Spurgeon

We will face opposition and persecution, it’s part of the deal. The world is so confusing. Sometimes there's war, sometimes peace. But most of all, there is a deep hatred for God.

People are so stubborn. They persistently refuse to yield to the Lord who made them and who is fervently protecting them. Maybe there was an accident, a death, or a miscarriage. Most often it's pure selfishness. People want to take credit for who they are-- How successful they have become. In doing so, they personally knock out the need for a savior in their life.

Life. It's a precious word. Something you only have one chance at. YOLO, the abbreviation for You Only Live Once, can easily be turned to YODO-- You Only Die Once.

If you've wasted your life on useless nothings and sin, on the day you die, when you stand before the throne of the holy, majestic, sovereign God of the universe-- God of everything, you'll have nowhere to go. You will be condemned for your every action. What will God say to you? Will He be pleased with your meaningless life? No. He will say, "Depart from Me, I never knew you." That will be the end of your happiness-- useless life. Your soul will be tormented in a lake of fire for eternity. Hell. Some people claim God isn't in Hell. We disagree. He is overseeing your punishment. One of God's characteristics is omnipresent, meaning everywhere. If God is everywhere, but not in Hell, this title does not belong to Him. “...tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb [Christ].” Revelation 14:10b

Not only is He omnipresent, He is omniscient, all knowing. Again, if there was one thing He didn't know, this wouldn't become him. He knows everything, He knows every one of your thoughts.

That said, back to standing before His throne on judgement day. How do you think you would appear?

Guilty.

No way out.

We were like that. But another attribute of God is love. Some sad people don't know what love is. Love isn't frivolous parties, it is selflessly serving others, putting the other person’s needs ahead of our own. God displays His love in a different form. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins,” 1 John 4:10. 1 Corinthians 13 lists a bunch of things that love is.

But God loves us- the elect- with unmeasurable love. He sent His only Son, born supernaturally through a virgin. His name was Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect, sinless life, and died on the cross for our sins-- yours, mine, and the sins of the world. In doing that, He freely paid the way for all who will ever know Christ to be saved, to go to heaven. Yes, you could skip out on hell and know-- while still living in bodily form, that you will go to heaven when you die.

If you don't know Christ, remember you could die. Even tonight.

If you do know Christ, brother... sister... friend...

Live like it.

Love to all,
Berea and Brooke