Saturday, April 2, 2016
Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.
DEATH'S DEATH
Can you think of a movie where death is a character that is ultimately killed? Most movies these days featuring death as a character will at best cheat or trick death and avoid it for at least a little while. Some movies have gone as far as to say death isn't real, that it doesn't exist. But that's really the best that can be done, because as entertaining and imaginative as eluding death may be, the reality is that death is painfully real.
The Commandments of God were written in our hearts and in the Holy Bible to protect us. They were written for us to know right and wrong, good and evil. They were written for us to know how to show our fear, respect, and love for our eternal Father who created each one of us. Death isn't a character. Death is a punishment (Genesis 3:14). It's a punishment for our deliberate sins of rebellion against the righteous and holy triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). But the good news, the gospel about our God, is His mercy and forgiveness. The Gospel is Jesus' life and death to put an end to eternal death in hell.
Revelation 21:4 promises, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." It's interesting how we talk of dead people as ones who have "passed away." Because our Lord and Savior speaks clearly and lovingly of death's death, of when death will have "passed away." What a joy! What comfort! What a blessing that we don't have to guess about life after death like some fictional movie, but to know with confidence that with Jesus our Savior in heaven there will be "no more death," because for us He Himself has become death's death!
When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell's Destruction, Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 54:3)
