Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower
than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that
he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that
through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of
angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be
made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being
tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Glorious truth!
Do you have a fear
of death? Many do. Many also have a fear of life. It's so easy to understand
why. There are so many things in life that cause fear. Pain, sickness, injury,
deprivation, poverty to the point of life endangerment. We have control over so
little in life, and those who try to convince you otherwise, they are deluded.
The deluded are filled with self-delusions based upon their own unique
experiences. They have these experiences and then believe all who choose can
share in their experience if only they do certain things. They can't comprehend
the reality that others are not them, and therefore will not find life as they
find it. Pain in one might cause them to rise, another might experience pain
and it causes them to be bitter and angry, still another might take on an
attitude of pure despair in their pain.
The uniqueness we hold as individuals should be recognized but by and
large it isn't and we are thrust into a society of norms regulated by majority
rule.
The truth of the
matter is, pain is frightening. Depravation is discouraging. Injuries are
depressing. Life is filled with many pains- emotional, physical, mental, and
spiritual. And while I can sit back and spout my personal advice based on my
personal experience, it has no weight behind it because it is unique to me and
my personal unique life not another's.
We all have things
in common, but not necessarily unique in details.
Our Savior took on
our flesh and blood, God in the flesh, choosing not to take on the flesh of
angels.
Our Savior
acknowledges that the Devil has the power over death.
How does the devil
have this power?
God told mankind
they would surely die if they did not trust in Him, their Creator.
Mankind believed God
and trust Him.
The Devil didn't
want mankind to trust God.
The Devil lied to
mankind.
Mankind believed the
Devil's lies.
Mankind stopped
trusting their Creator.
The Creator allowed
mankind to choose.
Mankind chose death,
because God was true- in disobedience- no longer trusting, mankind would surely
die.
Death is so much
more than the mere ending of our lives. Death is living in the knowledge of
death to come, it's living in a world that no longer has God as their all in
all, but rather the Devil.
In choosing to
believe the Devil over believing God, mankind switched allegiances to the Devil
by that choice.
The Devil- in who
sin was birthed, gave to all mankind all that sin entails.
Jesus came to redeem
mankind, to buy them back by the sacrifice of HIS LIFE, HIS GODLY, SINLESS
LIFE.
We choose to believe
that we've been redeemed, and the promise of that redemption is to be revealed
fully at the last trump, when Christ shall appear and all those alive and dead
in Him, will be reunited to live forever without sin, without death, without
fear, without the Devil.
We have HOPE for the
future promise to be fulfilled even as we suffer life and all its horrors right
here and now.
Our hope is heaven,
all else is TEMPORARY to eternity, even the worst of all things we may ever
encounter. And even the most chronic and
awful of circumstances that we may endure for years and years and years, are still
temporary to eternity! We need to have this HOPE, this eternal hope found only
in our SAVIOR, not in ourselves or anything, any situation we are found in here
and now in our temporary home.
Please Father,
please, we would be YOURS. We would cling to YOU and YOUR promises just as the
closest of all to you have had to do, cling to the promises through FAITH even
when by all appearances in our lives there should be no hope, in You we MUST
hope!
By YOUR grace and
mercy, Lord, by YOUR love now and forever!
In the name of our
Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen!
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