Life and Death

Life is defined as “the present state of existence; the time from birth to death. The life of man seldom exceeds seventy years.” 1828 Webster’s Dictionary      

Death is defined as “the act of dying; the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism.” Dictionary.com

                                                                                                                                                                

     Just two words.  As opposite as light and dark, hot and cold, and  well  life and death.  Light casts out darkness while darkness is the absence of light.  Heat warms the body but cold is the absence of that heat. Hope in the Lord gives us life and the absence of that hope brings death.

     It is amazing how just the four letter word life can bring so much hope into relationships and daily occurrences.  But as soon as the word death comes into our midst, whether by conversation or witnessing death in your own family or another’s, life looses its hold and death casts a gloomy and dark shadow.  The word hope turns into a question  “Where is the hope in death?” We seem to have short-term memory loss.  We forget what Christ said in John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”  We must keep our focus on the Lord.  It is vital to the life of a Christian, not only in the physical realm but most importantly in the spiritual realm.

There is hope in the Resurrection of Jesus!

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

When Darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, his covenant, his blood
supports me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay.

When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found!
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne!

John 14:1-6 KJV

“Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God; believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”  Thomas said unto Him, “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?”  Jesus said unto him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

There is hope!