Daily Reading: Hebrews 9
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9.27-28)
Devotional Thought: We are all destined to die, aren’t we? It’s the destiny of every man, woman, and child. Some live longer than others. I remember a few years ago when Jiroemon Kimura of Japan celebrated his 116th birthday. He was born on April 19, my daughter Jenny’s birthday. (I wonder if that portends long life for her?) 116 is good, but it is not very long in the cosmic scheme of things.
That got me to thinking, what is the oldest living thing? Some trees in the Middle East are thought to be 5000 years old. Scientists have discovered ancient sea grass in the Mediterranean which is thought to be 200,000 years old. That’s a long time, isn’t it? But still it is only about one ten thousandth of the life of the universe. There is a strand of jellyfish that is said to be immortal because it has the capability of altering its cells and regenerating itself. But most live only a few hundred years as they still can be killed by predators. Even if one of these should escape death, it wouldn’t live past the end of the earth. So, nothing on this planet is immortal. Except, that is, your soul and mine, along with the souls of all people.
You see, this life will one day end, and we will face judgment. Some may avoid it for longer than others, but eventually death and judgment come knocking. But, that is not the end! All who "are eagerly waiting" for Jesus will be saved - delivered - from death! Jesus bore our death on the cross, and he defeated it in his resurrection. Now, you and I truly can live forever!
Prayer: Lord, I believe that - as you told Martha - you are the resurrection and the life and that by believing in you, even though I die, yet I shall live. Help me so to live that I might enter into eternal life with you. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 53:1-6
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them.
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
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