Staring Death in the Face!
You have to think fast. You’re staring down a bull who has the power to crush you with his weight and might! What would you say to a 1700 pound bull who’s ready to run right through you? Quite frankly, there’s nothing you can say. You just need to get out of his way…and fast! Chances are, you’ll never be in this situation. However, you’re guaranteed to be in a situation much worse.
What could be worse?
It’s hard to imagine, but the prospect of facing death, and a painful one at that, is not the worst thing that can happen to you. You see, each of us has a soul. We are body and soul, material and immaterial. You know this to be true. Things like love, beauty, joy, and even the laws of nature are immaterial, yet you experience them all the time. You are more than the sum of your parts. You are more than stardust evolved or a bag of chemicals fizzing. You have been well designed, made by God. This is why every single person has dignity, value and worth. We are all made in God’s image. In fact, that’s why God says murder is wrong and squashing a bug is not. You have value because you are specially made by God.
Facing Something Worse than Death?
God made you, and so you are accountable to him and will stand before him one day to give an account. Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). Why would meek and mild Jesus speak about hell more than anyone else in the Bible? He’s warning you so that you don’t end up there! Be warned: hell is not a party; rather, it is a place devoid of all comfort, joy, and peace. God has made us for himself to find our joy, comfort, and peace in him. Rather than finding our joy in God, we seek it in entertainment, food, sex, family, vacations, money, cars, and other pleasure-seeking endeavors. All of these things are temporary. We want you to find greater joy, everlasting joy, in the eternal God who made you.
Your Greatest Need
Not only has God been kind to you by making you, he sent his Son Jesus. Jesus came to meet our greatest need: our broken relationship with our Creator. Our sinfulness (e.g., pride and pleasure-seeking for things rather than God) means that God’s wrath abides on us. The only solution is to trust in Jesus, his historical death and resurrection, promise of forgiveness and eternal life for all who repent and trust. He promises to be your substitute, bearing the wrath of God in his death and freely granting you forgiveness and a joyful existence with God forever. Don’t settle for temporary pleasures. Don’t wait until you are staring down death—you’ll be out of time to think.
Photo Credit: Calgary Stampede