Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Daily DevotionalSample

Death Died

Yesterday, we saw how the cross was God's instrument of punishing Satan (among other things). It took back the power that man had forfeited to the devil through sin. But Satan wasn't the only thing that was defeated at the cross. There was another fearsome foe that was slain on the cross-the enemy that no mortal had ever been able to best or beat-death.

Umm, you may not have noticed, but people still die. Death is actually alive and well today. That's true from a purely physical standpoint. But there's a deeper truth that God's Word gives us in the book of Hebrews. Let's pull back and look at it from a wider angle:

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15 NKJV)

Prior to the cross, death hung over humanity like an unforgiving executioner. Satan used the fear it rightfully inspired to torment and harass us. As sinners, we lacked confidence and courage before our holy Creator, and death was the inevitable messenger who would make sure we would eventually meet Him face to face.

But the fear that death inspired was destroyed at the cross. By substituting Himself for us, Jesus settled the sin issue once and for all. God no longer saw us as sinners but as saints clothed in Christ's righteousness. Concern was turned into confidence, and meeting our Maker went from being something to fear to being something to look forward to.

Prior to the cross, death hung over humanity like an unforgiving executioner. But the fear that death inspired was destroyed at the cross.

Think about it...

What does this passage reveal to me about God?

What does this passage reveal to me about myself?

Based on this, what changes do I need to make?

What is my prayer for today?