HomeWord - February 24, 2014

What Can We Learn from Death?

This devotional was written by Jim Burns

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. —Hebrews 9:27-28

No one likes to talk or think about his death or the death of his loved ones. However, there are certain facts we can learn from death.

We will all die.

Life is short, so we should make the most of each day.

Celebrate life daily. Live now-don't wait.

Walk with God the Creator and Sustainer of life.

I like what Leo Buscaglia wrote about death and life:

Death teaches us, if we want to hear, that the time is now. The time is now to pick up a telephone and call the person that you love. Death teaches us the joy of the moment. It teaches us we don't have forever. It teaches us that nothing is permanent. It teaches us to let go, there's nothing you can hang on to. And it tells us to give up expectations and let tomorrow tell its own story, because nobody knows if they'll get home tonight. To me that's a tremendous challenge. Death says "live now." Let's tell the children that.*

GOING DEEPER:

1. According to Hebrews 9:27-28 what is the ultimate destiny of humankind on earth?

2. What does this verse tell us about what Christ has done and what he will do? How does today’s thought affect the way you think about life and death?

FURTHER READING:

Genesis 3:19; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Psalm 91:1-3; Psalm 104:29

*Leo Buscaglia, Living, Loving and Learning (New York: Random House, 1982), p. 153.

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