I physically almost died yesterday. Actually, so did you. We almost die every moment, but then physically we live. Yet physically we are still dying. Strange concepts if you really think through them. What wrath we brought on ourselves in the beginning, when we committed cosmic treason against a holy yet loving God, and did exactly what He had instructed us not to do. We were surely warned!
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." - Genesis 2:16&17
My grandmother (87) my mother (55) and I (27) were in a serious car wreck yesterday on a major interstate. The van spun, flipped, and landed completely upside down on the side of the road. There were so many graces of the Lord. No other cars were involved, and Many gracious people stopped to help free us from the car. There was a first responder and nurse practitioner that were right behind us. My grandmother only received 22 stitches from a bad cut on her arm, my mother only has secere bruising on her abdomen, and I only have a few cuts and bruises on my knees. They were both wearing seat belts. I in the back was not.
It would have been so very easy for us all to have just died. Therefore, I am reminded of this curse of death and dying in Genesis. From the moment of conception we are under the curse of death. We are broken people born into a broken world.
Most of you will know the story of how Adam and Eve disobeyed God, but if you are not familiar I encourage you to read the first 3 chapters of the Holy Bible... Then just go a head and read the whole thing. It is a thrilling documentary of the beginnings of all things, and God's Words are essential to life!
So after Adam and Eve disobey God, miraculously God does not utterly destroy them immediately. Which is what we actually deserved. The human race could have been completely annihilated in that moment, but God let them live and only begin to die. He protected them from eating of the tree of life in the garden after they had eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Otherwise we would all live broken forever. Instead of being destroyed the relationship between God and man is only broken, and God as he sacrifices an animal to covered the shame and sin of Adam and Eve in animal skins physically He gave them a glimpse of the eternal covering God would later provide spiritually when The Word would become flesh and dwell among us as it is shared with us in John. Jesus (Fully God and Fully Man) lived, suffered, died, and miraculous rose from the grave-Conquering the curse He made a way for us to Come near to Him again- He ascended to heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. He is interceding for and covering those that trust and follow Him as we live and grow spiritually yet die and decay physically. He broke the curse of death for us. For death physically while in Christ spiritually we are freed to live in the eternal restored relationship with Christ.
While the van was spinning many things came into view... Then the trees, then the sky, then the dust. I kept my eyes open just looking... In the midst of such chaos there was this thrilling excitement of us going home, knowing fully, seeing fully, and being fully with Jesus. Then I saw nothing, and just felt confused. I immediately knew I was still here. It was a little disappointing at first, but as the afternoon went on I became very thankful to God for the sake of my family and friends, especially those yet to follow and trust Jesus.
The Lord still has a plan for me here, at least at this moment. Still things to show me and grow me closer to Himself. Maybe as he does that He can use me for the sake of His name going to unreached people. Just maybe He can use this dying body yet living spirit to go to a people that have never heard or had the opportunity to worship Jesus.
For today to live is Christ, but one day to die will be gain!
as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. - Philippians 1:20-21
