at the dawn of human history there was a man and a woman named adam and eve.
adam and eve were given a gift from their Creator and this gift was life. but it wasn’t enough. they wanted more. what they got for their pursuit was not more, but less. their payoff was death. this death worked from two angles – inside and out.
outside, their human bodies began to age, deteriorate, break down and finally give out.
inside, their spirit lost its life-source and became dormant, disconnected, diseased.
finally, their bodies died and their spirits were swallowed into the agony of the after-life separated from God.
that’s the way it is with humanity. we are born to die-inwardly and outwardly. the apostle paul said, “when i realized right and wrong (the law) and found i was guilty of breaking it, i died.” what was he saying since he did not physically die at this point? he meant that realizing you are not perfect confronts you with the knowledge that you cannot save or preserve your life. you are not in control. he also knew, as he said, “that this body is decaying and corrupted.” we will die physically – no debate.
the ancient scriptures record that “humans have been destined to die once, and after that encounter judgement.” that poses a problem. i already know i am guilty. if i go to judgement guilty, with no power to save myself, i will be sentenced. there is no way out.
that’s where God comes back into the picture. the same scripture (hebrews 9) says that Jesus’ death by the Cross could be used to pay my sentence. my sentence was death and separation from God. Jesus died and was separated from God on the Cross and i can appeal, with full rights, that he did that in my place. i can be exonerated of the sentence of judgement (even though i am guilty) by letting his death substitute for mine. he was torn from God, so i would not have to be.
if i died and was torn from God, i would have no power to overcome that. Jesus did have that power. he died, was torn from God, and then mustered the power to overcome death by resurrecting himself from the dead. now that he is alive, he offers me life- the original gift given adam. the same life that relates to God daily, interacts with destiny, enjoys full freedom and grace, and partners with Deity to ensure His kingdom come and His will be done.
where once my story had a pre-written ending, i am now unwritten. i have the potential of life fully formed in faith instead of fate.
as natasha bedingfield sings,
I am unwritten, Can’t read my mind I’m undefined I’m just beginning The pen’s in my hand Ending unplanned
Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words That you could not find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your INHIBITIONS
Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten
don’t let death inhibit you. release it. receive life. that is what Easter is all about. don’t let his death be in vain for you.
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