Saved by Death

1 Peter 1:6

So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead,

even though it is necessary for you to endure

many trials for a while.  (NLT)

     No matter how difficult this life is for the Christian who is solid in their faith, they have the confidence and courage to look ahead to the glorious future God has promised.  His promise of a new eternal life with Him gives us a joy that cannot be measured or taken away.  It is this inner joy of salvation that sets the Christian apart from the rest of the world.  Unlike the billions of people who do not embrace this promise, Christians have the advantage of knowing the plans of God—plans that exceed anything from this fallen world, because we know that this fallen world and everything it embraces is quickly fading away and will one day disappear.  Our Lord God and Savior Christ Jesus, knows firsthand how hard, cruel and wicked this evil world is, especially for those who are called by His Name. He knows what it’s like to be hated and persecuted. He knows all the slander and lies that we face.  He knows what it's like to go without. He knows what it feels like to be hurt, brutally beaten, and nailed naked to a dead tree. He knows what it’s like to suffer like no human has ever suffered, and die a godforsaken death.  He was unjustly condemned to die a criminal's death and was punished by God for the sins of the world, yet He Himself lived a sin free life.

    Our Lord God took on human flesh to die the death we all deserve—so we would be spared the sinner’s death of eternal darkness and condemnation.  It is so essential to our spiritual health that we rely on the Cross of Christ to save us from the wrath that we all deserve.  We cannot save ourselves no matter how hard we try, because we cannot be good enough to stand in the Presence of our Perfectly Holy and Righteous God.  When you live apart from the Living God, going with the flow of this dying world, you will never find the kind of joy and hope that helps you endure the calamity this world dishes out.  You will become discouraged, disappointed, and left hopeless.  But when you put your future in the hands of your Lord God and Savior—hands that were nailed through with rusty spikes, nothing from this fallen would will ever take your joy away, because you will know that the glory of Heaven awaits all those who die to self for the glory of Christ Jesus.

                           A Whisper of Hope

Don’t be fooled, My child…you cannot be good enough to receive the gift of salvation.  You cannot live apart from Me and escape the condemnation that sin brings.  Only My death and blood can save you from the eternal punishment you deserve.

Romans 5:1-4

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight

by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus

Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith,

Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege

where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look

forward to sharing God’s glory.  We can rejoice, too, when

we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are

good for us—they help us learn to endure.  And endurance

develops strength of character in us, and character strength-

ens our confident expectation of salvation.  (NLT)

          He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of

          Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God

                              (1 Peter 1:19)