DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Life Everlasting
by Elaine Pierce
What does it mean to cross over from death to life? Jesus said in John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
If we don't listen to Jesus and believe in him, we won't cross over from death to life. It seems simple, doesn't it? And yet, we want to do so much more than that to earn eternal life. We want to impress God with our good works, or at least show him that we've tried to be a "good person." We don't want to be lumped in with the "bad people," those who lie and cheat and think only of themselves...oh, might that be some of us? Might that be me? Paul says in I Corinthians 6:10-11 that "such were some of you" - thieves, the greedy, the swindlers and other ne'er-do-wells. And how did those "evil" people cross over from death to life? Paul tells us clearly:
"And that is who some of you were [the wicked, idolaters, thieves, etc.]. But you were washed, you were sanctified you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
We have spent ten weeks studying the Apostles' Creed. We are looking at the phrase "the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting" today and next week. What hope it brings me to know with certainty that my sins are forgiven, and that one day, I will join the saints before me who have crossed from death to life everlasting. Take heart in that, dear Christian. Through Jesus' death on the cross, and his resurrection, we are being fitted for a resurrection body. This life is not the end, but it is the beginning of our forever life.
I have a dear friend who often greets me as her "eternal friend," and it always makes me smile. Perhaps you can bless someone with that greeting today. And remember to hold tight to his word, because "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (I John 4:4)
PRAYER PRACTICE
Dear Lord, we come to you today knowing that we do not deserve the good gifts you give us. We claim the promise that we will cross over from death to life. One day, Lord, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that you are Lord. Amen.
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