This past year (2019) for our
family was riddled with death. Four times it came calling.
It doesn’t matter
how you slice it, death is cruel and ugly. This is what sin has ‘gifted’ all of
us. If death is all we have to look forward to in this life, then “…we are of
all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19b) But there is another gift of a different kind,
a gift through Jesus Christ. It is available to all who will receive it.
“When
Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread
to everyone, for everyone sinned.
But
there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the
sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s
wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man,
Jesus Christ.
And
the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one
man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our
being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.
For
the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater
is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it
will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
Yes,
Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of
righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
Because
one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person
obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
God’s
law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people
sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
So
just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s
wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting
in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:12, 15-21 NLT)
Our inheritance of original
sin from Adam has given us nothing but death. We didn’t even have to work to
receive it. We all have been born with it. As the above verses clearly state,
all who are willing have an alternative, and the alternative is eternal life
through Jesus Christ. There is one caveat to this free gift from God. It can
only be obtained by belief in His Son, Jesus Christ. All the glory goes to Him.
“God
saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this;
it is a gift from God.
Salvation
is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about
it.
For
we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do
the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)
Even though death comes down
hard upon us all, it has no power over us if we have put our faith in Jesus. On
the other side of the grave is our home, and the glories Jesus has provided are
beyond description to these earthly minds.
If we are a child of Almighty
God through His Son Jesus, we have everything to look forward to, and nothing
to fear – not even death. Even in the here and now He is always with us;
comforting, strengthening, loving us, guiding us and answering our prayers.
With all that had transpired in our lives last year we could have just given up
on God and blamed Him for a tough year … but why? He did nothing wrong. To the
contrary, He was and is with us through the valleys just as He is on the
mountain tops.
Probably everyone reading
this article has had the same experiences. I just pray you haven’t given up on
the One who really cares for you more than anyone else. Real peace and true
happiness can only be found in Him.
Many of you are going through
experiences that are choking the life from you. Your circumstances are much
worse than ours, but nothing is too hard for God. Even the apostle Paul had
problems he could not handle alone.
“Three
different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
Each
time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So
now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can
work through me.
That’s
why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships,
persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I
am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT)
January, March, October, and
December of last year brought death knocking on our family’s door, along with
all the other problems we face. Original sin has brought nothing but misery
upon us all, but Jesus said through the apostle Paul the following:
“O
death, where is your victory?
O
death, where is your sting?”
For
sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
But
thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus
Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NLT)
Life is tough enough without
going it alone. Walk with God and He will walk with you. You may even feel Him
holding your hand. Jesus also said:
“I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
Grant Phillips
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
