LIFE...DEATH...LIFE

We (you, me, everyone) will die. That is Simple, is it not? It is an inescapable fact. To leave it at that, though, is ignorant, reckless, irresponsible, and foolish beyond measure. Do you think so little of yourself? Do you think we are as frogs, or herring, or prairie dogs, or wildebeests that just come and go with little consequence (except as food for snakes, whales, coyotes and lions)? Have you watched the "Circle of Life" movie too many times?  If "birth to death" is all there is, then we (as a most intelligent, sophisticated, potential-of-a-creature) are a most pitiful, momentary breath in the eons of time. However, the significance of all these (animals), and others, is as nothing compared to the worth of man. The Bible says…

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings (one penny), and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows" Luke 12:6-7.




The point I want to make is, Life is Precious, Priceless, of Immense Significance, to be Treasured, Not to be Wasted, etc. We, as humans, are particularly precious to God. If one chooses not to believe this premise, then nothing much really matters. It is easy to say, "we live, we die, that's it". I'll say it again…that is ignorant, reckless, irresponsible, and foolish. But for anyone who will consider truth, then the two obvious questions (to me) would be, "Why do we have to die", and, "What is there after death"? Let's take the second question first.

In a nutshell… what "IS" after death (and must be considered before death), is everlasting Eternity (not to be redundant, but I repeat to emphasize intentionally). The quandary for man is that there are only two realms in Eternity… Heaven and the Lake (of Fire). God lives in the Heaven of His habitation. That is where God is. Unfortunately, God had to make a place for lucifer and all who rebelliously followed him against God because, clearly, they could not be where God is anymore. So God made hell and the lake of fire, reserved for satan and his demons. This occurred before man existed. Aside from being a REAL place, hell is also a representation… an illustration of the sorrow, distress, grief, mourning, pain, lament, loneliness, fear, torment, (add your own misery) etc… of being without God (removed, distant, separated, put away from). Hell is the temporary place of the grave for all who have rejected Jesus Christ as their Savior until... He shall say unto them on the left hand, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" Matt. 25:41

So then, along comes Adam (and Eve) and they transgress also. Not only can they not remain in the Garden of Eden (with God) and not only will they now die (which essentially means: separation) but now, after death (physical) man has only two "realms" to spend Eternity in… Heaven or hell. No Other Options! (NO! …no purgatory). There is life… "choose you this day whom you will serve" Joshua. 24:15 …then there is death, and then there is eternity. Choose wisely!


Death then, is only a transition. It cannot hold the redeemed, because Christ IS the Resurrection. Consider that declaration by Christ Himself (I am the Resurrection and the Life, John 11:25) with the work of "putting on Christ" Rom. 13:14. The broader implicit understanding of "putting on Christ" is that we become what He is. We partake of the resurrection and we "assume" eternal life. We who committed evil, can be perfected in righteousness (Christ); and we who spewed hate, can exercise love (in Christ), we who must die, can have eternal life (in Christ).

Can evil become righteousness? NO!
Can hate become love? NO!
Can mortal become immortal? NO!

I say NO! with a qualifier. Evil, hate and death are of satan. However, Righteousness, Love, and Eternal Life are of God… it IS God. We cannot simply adopt a new philosophy which we will "grow into"… nor can we decide to start "obeying God's laws. "The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" Psalm 19:7. But the fallen man cannot perfectly keep the law, nor can he apply God's wisdom. It is inherent in the old nature to be sinful.

None of that happens for us without the "new birth". The "new man" which we are to put on, is a new creation, Eph. 4:24. It is innate in the new man to be holy. We (the old man) cannot "become" a better person… we are MADE a new creature... in Christ. This is being "born again" into the new creation which God has produced in Christ. As "babes" (having just been born again) we are to grow into full maturity (perfection, Christ) as we are fed (the Word) and exercise, walk (in the Spirit).
"So when this corruptible (perishable) shall have put on incorruption (imperishable), and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory" 1 Cor. 15:54.



"The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me" PSALM 116:6.

And then the first question… WHY DO WE DIE?