Courage in the Face of Death 1 Corinthians 15:55–57 “O death, where is your victory? Where is your power to hurt?” Death’s power to hurt is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But we thank God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” During the Civil War, D. L. Moody was noted for his evangelistic efforts. He told of visiting a dying soldier in the hospital after the Battle of Murfreesboro. “One night after midnight, I was woke up and was told that there was a man in one of the wards who wanted to see me. He said he wanted me to help him die. And I said, ‘I’d take you right up in my arms and carry you into the kingdom of God if I could; but I can’t do it; I can’t help you to die.’ And he said, ‘Who can?’ I said: ‘The Lord Jesus Christ can—He came for that purpose.’ He shook his head and said, ‘He can’t save me; I have sinned all my life.’ And I said, ‘But He came to save sinners.’” Moody read John 3 and the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus to the dying man. Moody went on, “When I finished, his eyes were closed, his hands were folded, and there was a smile on his face. Oh! How it was lit up! What a change had come over it!” In just a few minutes the young soldier was in Heaven. Unless the Lord returns first, all of us will face death. Though that moment may be painful, it is nothing but a doorway to eternity with the God who loved and saved us. We can face the end of our lives with confidence because Jesus has already defeated death. He has provided not only for our lives here on Earth, but for the future—everything we need is already ours, and we have nothing to fear. Death holds no terror for a Christian who is certain of salvation through the finished work of Christ. GOD BLESS, KEEP LOOKING UP AND LISTENING FOR THE SHOUT, YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH JAMES 5:8: “BE YE ALSO PATIENT; STABLISH YOUR HEARTS: FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH.”
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:39:26 +0000