Appointed to death.

Matt. {6:25} Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought
for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor
yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more
than meat, and the body than raiment?


Is not life more than meat? So much of our lives are spent around eating, around food. How do you tell a starving person that life is more than meat, more than eating? Is it true that many die of starvation- even among those who believe in God and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? It is true. We say this verse as if God will take care of all our physical needs and we shouldn't think about our life and eating, drinking, and clothing. Is it true that sometimes we do go very hungry, very thirsty and wear threadbare clothing? Yes, it's true and some might like to point out that God is going back on this promise when those needs aren't met, seriously, when they aren't met and I'm not talking you want a feast and are only given grain, I'm talking when there is no feast and no grain to be had, when there is nothing. In truth if we answer this question we have the answer to a lot of things.


Is not the life more than meat?


Is not life more than living?


Wait! That's a strange thing to say. Is not life more than living? Some would jump up and say sure- it's dying but then there is no life in death unless of course you're one of the million, billions who are fooled into believing there is immediate access to another plane of conscious life upon death- a white light to drift off into.


There is life in death and not the life many believe. Jesus died so that we may live eternally and when we die we sleep in that promise of life eternal in a world He is preparing for us. Life in death is by faith in God's promises. In this world we will be persecuted and we will be put to death, again this isn't any sort of reality to those of us living in the US but it is reality to those living in countries that are putting Christians to death. If we choose to have *things*, if we choose to have life here and now rather than choosing Christ and submitting ourselves to death if need be then we forfeit life eternal. If we choose a life that is wrapped up in the *things* of life we leave no room for God. Things become our obsessions and we believe that we can't live without things. Sure, we believe we can live without the unseen God but not that steak in front of us. Or even more harder for those truly starving- can they make that choice between a bit of bread and God, are they called to do so? Is it cruel that they would be?


People want to paint the picture of God as cruel and mean, nasty, and sadistic, they forget that He isn't the author of lies, of that pain in the world. Once again if we point the finger at Satan we are told God allows Satan to reign here on earth so ultimately it is a cruel God that allows. That's the very small picture of life, not the bigger picture that includes life eternal in Christ.


This is an apostle talking here--

1 Cor. {4:9} For I think
that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were
appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the
world, and to angels, and to men.


Appointed to death.
Made a spectacle unto the WORLD, and to ANGELS, and to MEN.


A spectacle why? Because no man is greater than Christ who was innocent and died for our sins. No man. Jesus even said that the greatest is the least, that we should be servants. He shed His pure Spiritual existence and set aside the powers that could have spared Him from suffering and death and instead took on the human flesh that could feel, that could suffer, that could die and He did so when He didn't have to because He loves us.


We might have to suffer and suffer terribly in ways we can never imagine. We might be tempted to blame God for allowing the suffering, but may the Holy Spirit strength us, comfort us, and keep us in Christ knowing that no matter the suffering there is a world beyond this one and it is promised to those who believe in Jesus and His love, accepting His amazing sacrifice, accepting it is Christ's righteousness not any of our own.


In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, by His grace and mercy now and forever!


Amen.