Dying: The Door

Intro:
Dying is not something we like to think about. We acknowledge that we have an appointment with *death and that our lives are just a mist, we know that it is good to think about these things as well. Still. *Death is *death and dying is dying. I'd like to stay alive thank you very much.

But one thing that will help us look death in the eye is knowing what happens after death. If we KNOW that *death is not the end but really the beginning it should help us be bold and strong. *Death is a door into new life! *Death is the beginning.

Even as I look at the words on the computer I am uncomfortable with the subject matter. Yet I remember what God has done in raising Jesus from the dead and the promises that come from his resurrection and I have hope.

Make sure you make it through the door!

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:35-44
35 Someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

Think:
Paul is making one really simple yet profound statement here: "You are not your best until you die." In other words, *death is not the end! Death is the beginning, the door to real life. So often we focus on the door and it creates fear. Fear of the unknown. Paul encourages us to look beyond the door.

The door represents our perishing, our dishonor, our weakness and our natural limitations (v. 42-44). Pretty much what we live with on a daily is represented here. Our lives are full of limits, frustrations, failings, weakness and pain. We go to parties and entertain ourselves to *death to try and avoid this pain. The door represents things we do not like.

What is on the other side of the door?

The other side of the door represents our eternity, our glory, our power and our spiritual freedom in God's presence. No more darkness, no more night. This is the day when our faith becomes sight. This is the day when we will no longer see Jesus through a dark reflection but face to face. This is the day that we will know no sorrow, no pain, no tears and no loss. There will be no fear. That is a beautiful picture. That is the hope we have in Christ.

Do:
Take time to examine your heart. Are you living in fear? Are you consumed by worry? Are you looking at the door?

Can you create a picture of what life looks like beyond the door? Grab a picture from the above passage and work it through your mind.

If you know Jesus you will make it through the door. If you do not know Jesus you are being walked into the door jamb as we speak. If you want to make sure that you know Jesus then read the link on the DevoLink page titled: "Begin a relationship with Jesus."

Listen to the Graverobber song in the DevoLink Worship Center. Listen to the words carefully.

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.