Death: The last enemy

God had told Adam and Eve that in the day they ate the forbidden fruit they would die.  Nevertheless they ate (Genesis 2:17; 3:6). And whether you understand this as spiritual death (c.f. Ephesians 2:1), or if you understand day as a season (as in my father's day), they did indeed die (start to die) on that day! We don't like to think about of death, but we cannot avoid it, since we all die. The good news however (the gospel), is that Jesus has conquered death and tells us “He (she) who has faith in Me, though they may die, they shall live”  (John 11:25, 26).

It was God's intention that mankind should live forever and never die. That is why He placed the tree of life in paradise (the garden 2:9).  But paradise would not be paradise if sin were present. In fact, to live forever and ever in a sinful state, would be a form of hell. And so after Adam and Eve had, by their free choice, embraced sin, it was necessary for them to be expelled from paradise “lest he eat of the tree of life, and live forever” (3:22). If it seems harsh, it's because very few of us realize either the seriousness of sin, or the holiness of God. The point, is than in our denial and rationalization we tend to minimize and excuse our wrong doing. But He is God, and He sets the standard as perfection. That is why just one disobedience brought death. We may not like it, but we don't get to set the rules.  Over against this however,  He has provided a way for us to cheat death, and to live both fullness of life in the here and now, and pleasures forevermore in paradise (1 Peter 3:18; John 10:10b; Psalm 16:11; Revelation 21:4).

We probably know people who hate God. And actually, many who deny His existence, are probably just mad at Him. But we have all sinned, and in our minimizing and excusing, we likely don't realize that sin makes us enemies of God (Romans 3:23; 5:10).  But  even while we were His enemies, God demonstrated His tangible love for us by sending His Son to die as a substitute,   the righteous One for we the unrighteous. In this way He was able to be both just, and yet able reconcile us to Himself (Romans 3:26, 5:8, 10; 1 Peter 3:18). Famously “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever puts his faith in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Putting our faith in Him involves repenting (Mark 1:15). It's about changing our mind about sin, and choosing to no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who loved us and gave Himself for us (2 Corinthians 5:15). When we receive Him in this way He adopts us as His children  (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1).

Thank You Lord that You showed Your power over death by raising Jesus from the dead (Romans 1:4).  Thank You too for Your promise that those who put their trust in You will also be raised to life (1 Corinthians 15:29).   Thank You Lord that our last enemy death will  itself be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26). Indeed there will be neither death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There will be no more pain (Revelation 21:4), and we will be with You forever in paradise (1 Thessalonians 4:17). For these and many other things we praise and thank You Lord,  in Jesus Name Amen