So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.
1 Corinthians 15:21
“Death itself, we do not fear,
But this:
To be,
We know not what,
We know not where.”
The poet who wrote this managed to express in 18 words the uncertainty many people have concerning death. It is not really the dying we are afraid of – although no one is in a hurry to die – it is whether we continue to exist after we die, and if so, where will we be?
But before we ask that question, there is another we should consider first:
“Why is there death in the world anyway?”
Many scientists will tell you death is part and parcel of the evolutionary process. Over millions and millions of years, the weaker elements of the various species were “weeded” out, resulting in the survival of the strongest. Death, they say, is just a part of the natural order of things, the way the universe works.
Why is it then, that our souls are torn apart by the death of someone we love?
I believe it is because death was never intended to be “a part of the natural order of things.” In today’s verse, Paul reminds us of the historical record in Genesis 3 telling us death came into the world through the rebellion of mankind against its Creator.
Placing Adam and Eve in a perfect environment, God gave them complete freedom except in the matter of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. “Eat from that,” said the Lord, “And you will surely die.” With tragic consequences for the entire human race, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and the world was plunged into death and suffering.
Death is a constant reminder to all of us that our relationship with our Creator is broken.
“…death came into the world through a man.”
This could have been the end of our story, but thank God, it is not!
He had a rescue plan in mind which would overthrow the curse of death, ultimately resulting in “…the resurrection from the dead…through another man.”
This man was His Son, Jesus and we shall consider further the mighty results of His resurrection in tomorrow’s reading.
For further reflection: Read Genesis 3 carefully, taking note of what happened, the consequences and the promise God gave the human race.
“Death itself, we do not fear,
But this:
To be,
We know not what,
We know not where.”
The poet who wrote this managed to express in 18 words the uncertainty many people have concerning death. It is not really the dying we are afraid of – although no one is in a hurry to die – it is whether we continue to exist after we die, and if so, where will we be?
But before we ask that question, there is another we should consider first:
“Why is there death in the world anyway?”
Many scientists will tell you death is part and parcel of the evolutionary process. Over millions and millions of years, the weaker elements of the various species were “weeded” out, resulting in the survival of the strongest. Death, they say, is just a part of the natural order of things, the way the universe works.
Why is it then, that our souls are torn apart by the death of someone we love?
I believe it is because death was never intended to be “a part of the natural order of things.” In today’s verse, Paul reminds us of the historical record in Genesis 3 telling us death came into the world through the rebellion of mankind against its Creator.
Placing Adam and Eve in a perfect environment, God gave them complete freedom except in the matter of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. “Eat from that,” said the Lord, “And you will surely die.” With tragic consequences for the entire human race, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and the world was plunged into death and suffering.
Death is a constant reminder to all of us that our relationship with our Creator is broken.
“…death came into the world through a man.”
This could have been the end of our story, but thank God, it is not!
He had a rescue plan in mind which would overthrow the curse of death, ultimately resulting in “…the resurrection from the dead…through another man.”
This man was His Son, Jesus and we shall consider further the mighty results of His resurrection in tomorrow’s reading.
For further reflection: Read Genesis 3 carefully, taking note of what happened, the consequences and the promise God gave the human race.