We’ve lost a lot of famous individuals in 2016, most recently Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. We’re shocked to hear of the deaths of talented and wealthy people. We expect them to live long lives and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
As confusing and sad as death is, everyone has a death date. When someone dies very young or tragically, I’m reminded how short life is and how fearful we become because we don’t know which day will be our last. Death raises questions like Why was I born? What is the meaning of life? Why do people die?
The Holy Bible answers these questions.
- We were born to bring glory to God and enjoy fellowship with Him.
- The meaning of life is to honor God with our reasoning, creativity, and productivity.
- We die because we’re rebels.
Humans are created in God’s image, and as such we were created to live forever. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, were created in perfection. But they disobeyed their loving Creator. They were told before they disobeyed that they would surely die if they disobeyed. God called their lack of trust and subsequent disobedience sin. No longer were Adam and Eve in an eternal state of perfection, but in an eternal state of condemnation. Stiff penalty. But it’s all about who makes the rules, and clearly, we don’t.
How merciful that God didn’t cast them out of His perfect garden in their wretched state. He shed the blood of an animal to provide reparation for their wrongdoing and clothed them with the animal skin to cover their shame and remind them of His provision.
Since we are the offspring of Adam and Eve, we’ve inherited their sin nature and its consequences. It’s why we die. We’re born rebels. Left to ourselves, we would go our own way instead of trusting and obeying God. But God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the death penalty that we deserved. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was crucified to save from their sins those who trust Him by faith.
Even though our physical bodies are decaying each day, we don’t lose heart because through Christ, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
Glorify and honor God. Enjoy Him, knowing that our times are in His hands. Don’t fear. Only believe.
When this blog posts, I’ll be on vacation. But will it be a vacation I’ve earned?
Robin Patchen is an award winning multi-published author, but only because she can’t pursue her other dream.
Navy SEAL Zach McCloud is determined to protect those under his care. Just returned from deployment, he arrives to find his ready-made family in need of safeguarding. Someone wants them dead and he aims to get to the bottom of it.
I’m old enough now the things that were popular when I was a kid are coming back in style. Movies, toys, clothing. Some of which were so terrible they should’ve stayed in the past. Every generation can sympathize, I’m sure.