We Can Have Liberty Over Death

As the old saying goes, I’ve got some good news and some bad news.

The bad news first, of course:  This might be obvious, but we can’t always be happy.  We won’t always win.  And someday we’re all going to die.  Sort of depressing?  Not at all, when you consider the good news:  We can have lasting joy.  We can have victory in the battles that really matter.  And after we die, we can live forever in a place called Heaven.

Think I’m crazy?  I might be, but God certainly isn’t.  Please carefully read and ponder the following words from the very One who created you:

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” – John 15:11

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – I Corinthians 15:55-57

Of course, these verses were written to Christians. So how can we become a part of this? There are many conflicting views out there on how to become a Christian, but the Bible is very clear. If you truly want joy, victory, and eternal life, you must:

1. Realize that you are a sinner, and that your sin—if left untreated—will result in death (“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. For the wages [result] of sin is death…” – Romans 3;23,6:23a).
2. Understand that you can’t treat your own sin problem, no matter how much good you do (“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses [good deeds] are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities [sins], like the wind, have taken us away.” – Isaiah 64:6).
3. Believe that God loves you so much that he gave His only Son Jesus Christ to take the penalty for sin and die in your place, be buried, and ultimately conquer sin and death by rising again (“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life… Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” – John 3:16, I Corinthians 15:3,4).
4. Accept God’s open invitation to salvation and ask Jesus Christ into your heart and life (“And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – Revelation 22:17, Romans 10:9,10,13).
5. Rest assuredly in knowing that if you just prayed and truly accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior from sin, you have been adopted into the family of God and you will never lose your salvation (“God sent forth his Son… to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons… And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” – Galatians 4:4,5; John 10:28).

I pray that even today you will find this lasting joy, real victory, and an eternal home in Heaven.  If you have just accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, I would love to hear about it!  You can email me at:  joestewart21@gmail.com