“Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8For You have rescued my life from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from stumbling and falling. 9 I will walk [in submissive wonder] before the LORD In the land of the living.” Psalm 116:8+9 AMP
The Psalm today reflects on the goodness and faithfulness of God recalling all of the victories and deliverance’s experienced by the writer. These are the basis for the reason his soul and emotions should be comforted that God has also delivered him from eternal death. Although we don’t think about it much, the Scriptures remind us that we all have a date with destiny.
“And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once and once for all to bear [as a burden] the sins of many, will appear a second time [when he returns to earth], not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly and confidently waiting for Him.” Hebrews 27-28 AMP
Living outside the grace of God I always feared death and could not comprehend the reality of it. This side of the cross I understand clearly that Jesus paid it all so I could now be unafraid of dying. In fact, the Scripture is clear that I will not experience death as those who have not trusted Him.
“Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death–that is, the devil– 15and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives” Hebrews 2:14-15 AMP
Since Satan could never defeat God, he struck at that which was dearest to God’s heart, man. His plan was to eternally separate God from that which God loved most. In verse we see the love of God demonstrated to redeem back that which was lost! Jesus shared in our humanity so that the requirement of a perfect sacrifice could be met. Man was born in sin so was automatically disqualified from ever being able to break the power of death.
Our Psalm reminds us today that we should not fear death and that we should now walk steadfastly in the free and confidence we have in His finished work. I have always said that Satan has perpetrated the ultimate lie on mankind, that is, you are living now and going to die when you are dying now and going to live! The Apostle Paul told the Thessalonians,
“Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life]. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [as in fact He did], even so God [in this same way–by raising them from the dead] will bring with Him those [believers] who have fallen asleep in Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 4:14 AMP
Are you walking in submissive wonder before the Lord in the land of living? Take time today to refuel and renew your commitment to God for we know the days are short and we should not hold back anything from His hand! We know that the days are short, and we should not hold back anything from His hand! Be confident in His promise that He is preparing a place for you and will one day come to take you home! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken