“ Fear not, I am the first and the last—the living one. I died… I am alive forevermore… I have the keys of Death_” (Rev.1:17-18). “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.” (Rev. 21:4)
Lord Jesus, I’ve underlined many passages and promises in my old, single-column NIV Bible. But no single phrase in your Word means more to me this December 2022 than this one: “And death shall be no more.” I know it’s an exaggeration, but it feels like I have as many friends getting dressed for funerals as they are for Christmas parties.
I don’t know what Mary did and didn’t know about everything you’d accomplish, as you left her womb for our world. But I am so grateful that your birth was pregnant with death’s dying. 10,000 times 10,000 thank you for coming to save us from our sins. Equally so, thank you for coming to destroy death —every expression of death in every sphere of life.
You are both the grace giver and the grave robber. You were “born that we no more may die,” and you died that death no more may live. We now grieve with hope and weep without despair, all because of you.
It really hurts… but our pain and our tears have an expiration date. Jesus, You have “the keys of Death”—accidents don’t, karma doesn’t, depression doesn’t, cancer doesn’t. The “valley of the shadow of death” will soon be the playground of eternal life and joy. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.
