Reality Physically and Metaphysically

Physically and Metaphysically Speaking:

The most exhilarating

or the most terrifying

kind of reality in life

Is the discovery of

the absence or presence

of something as nothing

The Significance of How We See Death Then And How We See It Now…

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is significant,

not just because he defeated (physical/temporal) Death;

but more importantly,

because He defeated (spiritual/eternal) DEATH. *

The first victory over Death is merely miraculous.

The second victory over DEATH is Divine;

and is what makes possible the move from utter annihilation

to restored "sonship" with the Father in Heaven. **
Christ’s Resurrection gave the early 1st Century Christians

JOY, HOPE and delicious FREEDOM from the STARK TERROR,

(that lay await) for departed souls existing beyond the grave. ***
For most THEN, the idea of death was horrifying; and an ever present reality…

For most TODAY, the idea of death is offensive and inconvenient; and marked by anesthetizing denial...

REJOICE! Christ's Life, Death and Resurrection makes it possible to have LIFE over DEATH!!!

*"Where their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched". (Mark 9:48)

** But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son… so that we might receive adoption as sons.

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God (Gal 4:4 - 4:7)

*** 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, 

then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
  1Co 15:54-55

The Loss of Fear in Death

One of the greatest losses of our modern day era,

is not so much the fear of death,

but the stark terror of what may lay beyond it.

So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom

(Psalm 90:12 ESV)

IRONY...

There are those in history who "loved" a "truth" so much,

They burned others at the stake (in this world),

Because "THE TRUTH" of those burned, did not reflect their mere "love."

CONVERSELY

There are those in history whose "truth" exemplified only "love,"

Unwittingly staking others to be burned (in the netherworld),

Because their MERE LOVE, wasn't reflective enough of "The Truth"

TRUTH without LOVE is like a dry river bed; it gives direction but no life.

LOVE without TRUTH is like a vast swamp land; it has plenty of life, but no direction.

COMBINED

LOVE and TRUTH are like a wide river valley, plenty of life on both sides, while still providing direction.

HUMANLY speaking: If the severity of God's "JUSTICE" isn't a true and ever present certainty, then the beauty of God's "GRACE" can't be an ever true and meaningful reality. DIVINELY speaking: JUSTICE and GRACE are eternal and irreducible divine attributes - THE celestial polestar points on an equally balanced axis. To marginalize the function of one is to compromise the nature of the other....

Confession

True Confession Before Christ

Necessarily Means Embracing The Kind of Inner Honesty

For Which Eternal Separation Becomes

Not Only A Vivid Possibility,

But A "JUST" One As Well.

On The Other Hand,

The ABILITY To Truly Confess

Also Necessarily Means That The Confessor

Is Now Bathed and Swathed

In The Surpassing Grace Of A Loving God.