Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews2:14-15
I'm conducting a funeral* today.
My friend, Rod Botsis, shared with me that funerals feel like spiritual warfare to him. Death bullies and terrifies us. It paralyses us with a sense of finality, futility and fear. But we believe in our Saviour Jesus who really died and really rose again and that He did this to break death's grip on our lives and on our hearts.
Look at these verses:
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Heb2:9)
This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has DESTROYED DEATH and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2Tim1:9-10)
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be NO MORE DEATH or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Rev21:4)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:28-39)
Death is a bully - the funeral liturgy I use says this: "Death has seems to be the last indignity and the end to all that is lovely, but through Christ God has made it a gateway into new life."
I love seeing bullies being sorted out!!!
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* Ken Hagerman was 72 and leaves behind a legacy of 8 children, 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was a gentleman, a gentle man and a man of faith and he is in the arms of Jesus.
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Theo Groeneveld theo @ emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at emmdev[dot]blogspot[dot]com/
