DEATH IS DEFEATED!

DEATH IS DEFEATED!

 Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die… So Elisha died, and they buried him—II Kings 13:14, 20

 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. —Psalm 104:29

             Elisha was a godly man, a prophet of God. Our Lord worked mighty deeds through Him, marvelous miracles to show forth His glory.   And yet Elisha went “the way of all the earth” (Joshua 23:14).  Just like “Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten” so Elisha also went “the way of all the earth” and died.

            These men, and so many other believers of the past and present, were ready to die because they lived a life for our Lord. Death would come to them, but they did not allow that to discourage them or stop them from serving our Lord God Almighty while they lived.

            The fear of death for the follower of Jesus has been taken away— “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrew 2:14-15). We need not fear death because it no longer has power over us.   Satan has been defeated and all those who have put their faith in Jesus and have trusted Him no longer need to fear death.

            Why would a follower of Jesus fear death since “to be away from the body” we would “be at home with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8).  Dying is part of this fallen world, but for the believer it is just a crossing over the threshold into eternal glory with Jesus.   Oh, just to think about that brings such great joy to my heart! A believer cannot really live now if they are also in fear of death now. As someone has said, “You are not ready to live unless you are ready to die.”

            How many believers are being fearful because of this present virus and dying?   That should not be. We should not fear the virus or death. Are you fearing? Don’t! I like what is said in these clips from the “Lord of the Rings” — https://youtu.be/rgWkmyzmTMc?t=60 and https://youtu.be/O_FmqI7QKck. We need to live wisely, but let us live! Yes Dear Father may I live for You and do so according to Your desires and purposes for me. Yes, may this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your precious Son, Jesus.  https://youtu.be/uMsMiluCUUI