What does it mean to be alive? What is death? Asking those questions from a human perspective may receive a few different answers, but it is likely they would all be of the same nature. But what if we asked the same two questions from a spiritual perspective?
We generally associate life with breathing, hearts beating, and a variety of bodily functions. The average person will include walking/running, the ability to think and learn, sight, hearing, and we might include having a family. In other words, what we do or can do.
Death, on the other hand, will be described as a lack of life. There may be a variety of ways we get the point across, but they all point back to the simple answer. In death, the body has stopped breathing, the heart has stopped beating, and the body has become rigid.
But that is not the life and death we should spend much time worrying about. Our spiritual life and death is far, far more important. As the Apostle Paul tells the church in Ephesus, we all were once dead in our sin. In some ways, many of us continue to keep one foot in that deadness. We continue to willfully sin. But the good news is, we can be forgiven.
We have life through the power of the cross and our belief in Jesus Christ. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we are given freedom along with the Holy Spirit. We can go before a Holy God, ask for forgiveness, and be confident he forgives because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. We have the hope of eternal life because Jesus rose from the grave. Therefore, though we would be dead because of our sins, we instead have life because of the love of God as demonstrated in the actions and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
I pray we all know we would be dead without Jesus. I pray we know we have life because of Jesus. I pray each one of us will hold on to the hope and eternal life given to us by Jesus. Step out of your dead body. Step into the life of the Holy Spirit. Give thanks to God. Know Jesus has saved you from eternal death and granted you eternal life.
Ephesians 2:1-2 You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.
Marty Pressey 