Why is death so devastating? It’s a fact of life that everything living in this world will one day die, but that knowledge doesn’t take the surprise or pain away when a loved one passes.
We are never quite ready for death even though we know it’s coming, because we were never meant to die. When God created us, He created us to live with Him forever. Death entered the world when sin did, and just like that, everything that was perfect was broken.
Death is insidious. Adam and Eve didn’t die right away. They were estranged from God and died after a time—long enough to see one son murder another. They felt the sting of death and brokenness long before they died.
Like Adam and Eve, our iniquities have left us estranged from God, and we grievously suffer the repercussions of sin in broken relationships. We feel death’s sting as individuals, and we feel its sting collectively as humans.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.
—Eph. 2:14-16, NIV
Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection conquered our greatest enemy, death, reconciling us to God and enabling the unity of all believers. This unity cannot be brought about by political or social means, only bought by Christ’s sacrifice. That perfect sacrifice reconciles us to Him and allows us to live with Him forever.
Prayer + Reflection
- In what ways is God still working to reconcile you to Himself? Confess any sin standing between you and Him.
- How can we partner with God in doing the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-20)? Ask the Lord to show you ways to achieve unity with other believers.
- Please lift up two teams of church-planters preparing to go to unreached nations with FMI. Pray that God would unite these teams in faith, and that they would be able to share the gospel message of reconciliation to the unreached.
Share your thoughts. See comments below, and add your own.
