In His Name Devotionals
DEATH IS POWERLESS, WITHIN THE GOSPEL
In His Name Devotionals
DEATH IS POWERLESS, WITHIN THE GOSPEL
Before death can be understood, it must first be seen for what it is in common perception: Satan’s ultimate weapon of terror against the human race.
Death is inevitable. Its coming is irreversible. We may postpone it! We may evade it! We may even cheat it! But running from the reality of death only avoids reality.
Actually death is a natural human experience—essential to nature. We live by eating dead plants and animals; animals live by eating dead plants; plants feed on the decayed residue of animals and other plants. Though death is natural, many of us find the thought frightfully unnatural.
As our representative, Jesus stepped forward to face Satan. Though the old devil tried by anger, lust, and greed; by lies, slander, and betrayal, Jesus could not be intimidated and He never flinched. So Satan unsheathed the sword of death.
The Son of Man knew what was coming—and shuddered. But with Gethsemane behind Him, Jesus bared His neck to the enemy’s blow. With his full force, Satan brought the gleaming blade down. Then, just as he was about to rejoice in triumph, Jesus was alive again. Alive forever! The Good News—the Gospel—became reality!
“Do not be afraid,” says the Living Christ. “I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Rev. 1:17b-18). The power to overcome death is within the Gospel. What a mighty Savior!
Jesus died and rose again that He might “destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives are held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 1:14b-15). The astonishingly awesome eternal power of God is within the Gospel!
Satan has held the human race bondage long enough. Jesus faced him at the cross, appeared defeated in the tomb, but burst forth in victory! Jesus now shouts at death, “Where is your sting? Where is your victory?” He crushed Satan, disarmed him, taking the power of death and Hades away from him. Within the Gospel Jesus made death powerless!
So never again, Satan! Your dark fortress has been entered and plundered by the Son of God. Do your devilish worst. You prowl and roar like a lion, but you are a toothless terror. We may shudder at your roar, but we will not be terrorized! Your ultimate terror is powerless within the Gospel! The same Holy Spirit who raised our Lord from the dead is in us and will raise us up in the last day. We will never turn back from Jesus!
