BROADCASTS.com

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 15\n\n\n\nOne day, unless Jesus returns first, I will die. And honestly, that\u2019s a scary thought for me. I\u2019ve known Jesus as my Savior for as long as I can remember, and I trust that He will hold me even in death. But sometimes I think I use the promise of the resurrection\u2014that Jesus will raise us from the dead at His return\u2014as an excuse to avoid my fear of death instead of actually facing it.\n\n\n\nIn these moments, when the reality of death grips me in fear, I can take comfort in the fact that Jesus Himself experienced death. It\u2019s an easy fact to gloss over\u2014we often jump straight from the cross to Easter Sunday, missing the tomb entirely. But Jesus didn\u2019t skip the tomb. Jesus didn\u2019t just die\u2014He spent time being dead.\n\n\n\nJesus lived a sinless life, then died on the cross. Jesus was laid in a tomb\u2014a cold, barren place of darkness and death and despair. His limbs were still. His lungs didn\u2019t move. His heart didn\u2019t beat. And then, it did. His heart began to pump blood through His veins, and His lungs pulled air into His body. His cold hands became warm with life. He walked out of the tomb healthy, whole, and alive. And, when we put our trust in Him, that is what He promises to do for us when He returns. In fact, He promises to make all of creation new\u2014healthy, whole, and alive.\n\n\n\nAnd this truth gives me great hope. Because one day, my body will lie in a grave\u2014a cold, barren place of darkness and death and despair. My limbs will be still. My lungs won\u2019t move. My heart won\u2019t beat. And then, one day, it will. \u2022 Taylor Eising\n\n\n\n\u2022 Have you ever been afraid of death? How could the promise of the resurrection be comforting in these times?\n\n\n\n\u2022 Death is the ultimate result of sin. No wonder death is strange to us\u2014God didn\u2019t intend for us to die. And thankfully, He has made the way for us to have eternal life. Jesus said, \u201cAnyone who believes in me will live, even after dying\u201d (John 11:25). As Christians, if we die before Jesus returns, our spirits will be with Him, away from our bodies (2 Corinthians 5:1-15). In perfect joy, we will await the day Jesus will return to earth and raise our bodies from the dead; then we will live with Him forever in renewed creation! So, we don\u2019t need to be afraid of dying, because our Savior died for us, and now nothing\u2014not even death itself\u2014can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). If you want to know more about this good news, see our \u201cKnow Jesus\u201d page.\n\n\n\nThen, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: \u201cDeath is swallowed up in victory.\u201d 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NLT)