the power of death

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from 2 Timothy 1:1-18. Paul tells Timothy (and us) that Jesus broke the power of death.

Now what does that mean exactly? I mean, we do all still die. At least, most of us do. There is a rare exception - Enoch, Elijah, possibly Mary. But for 99.99(lots of 9's)% of us, we eventually die. So how has death's power been broken?

Well, death used to be the end. The payment for our sins was death. And everyone paid it. It was heart breaking when people died, because we had no hope of seeing them again. Before Jesus, we were without hope of redemption or heaven.

But then Jesus came and brought us hope again. He brought light back into our lives, into our darkness. He broke the all-ruling power of death and made it possible for us to live with Him forever in a place where He is our sun.

The scariest thing about hell is that there is no hope. "Abandon all hope ye who enter here," Dante says is written over the entrance to hell. And without God, all hopes are indeed gone. But with God, everything is possible.

God, thanks for defeating death and breaking its power. Thank You for the hope You bring to our lives.