NOVEMBER 5, 2012
Beyond
Just And Fair
Read: Colossians
3:18–4:1
Masters, give your bondservants what is just and
fair, knowing that you also
have a Master in heaven. —Colossians
4:1
I’ve
heard people say, “I’m not afraid of death because I’m confident
that I’m going
to heaven; it’s the dying process that scares me!” Yes,
as Christians, we look
forward to heaven but may be afraid of dying. We
need not be ashamed to admit
that. It is natural to be afraid of the pain
that comes with dying, of being
separated from our loved ones, of
possibly impoverishing our families, and of
regret over missed earthly
opportunities.
Why
don’t Christians need to be afraid of death? Because Jesus was raised
from the
grave, and we who are in Christ will also be raised. That is why in
1
Corinthians 15:56-57, Paul proclaimed: “The sting of death is sin, and
the
strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The
dying process itself is but an escort that ushers us into eternity with God.
As
we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” we can have this
confidence from God’s Word: “You are with me; Your rod and Your staff,
they
comfort me” (Ps. 23:4). The picture here is of the Lord coming
alongside us,
giving comfort and direction as He escorts us through the dark
valley to the
“house of theLord.” There we will
dwell with Him forever (v.6).
Think of just crossing a river,
Stepping out safe on that shore,
Sadness and suffering over,
Dwelling with Christ evermore! —Anon.
Death is the last shadow before heaven’s dawn.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012
