Good News at Rock Bottom: A 5-Day Devotional Plan With Ray OrtlundSample

Good News in Death

We might wonder how it will go down for us on our final day in this world. Maybe it will be cancer, or a car wreck, or war, or murder, or just old age. But unless Jesus comes back first, you will die. And there is no deeper rock bottom than the final collapse not just of your career but of your very life itself. Death is the bottom of rock bottom. Death is the underside of the bottom of rock bottom. And that is why the high and holy one will be so present with you at that moment of your death.

The Bible says,

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. (Ps. 116:15)”

The keyword is “precious”—the opposite of cheap or throwaway. When you come to die, and you can no longer do your job or provide for your family or serve your church or do anything helpful to anyone, and you cannot earn your way any longer at all—the Lord will not crumple you up and throw you away like a piece of trash. In that moment of utter weakness and need, you will be precious to him. He will treasure you, value you, hold on to you. And on that day, so significant to him—when that day comes, as it soon will, then the risen Christ will say to you, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Your happiness is no longer limited to the narrowness of a coffin. Your future is as big as the new heavens and the new earth, that eternal place being prepared for you by your risen King (John 14:2–3). Your hope is not petty and small—like living an ideal, designer life here in this world. Here’s how big your future is in Christ: “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home” (John 14:2 NLT)—room enough for you to live and run free and discover and enjoy to the max forever! Your future is a renewed world, with a renewed human race from every tribe, tongue, language, and culture, all gathered together in God’s glorious presence, partying like this sad world cannot imagine (Rev. 7:9–12).

Whatever earthly path leads us there is fine with us. The more we walk with Christ, the more we find one overruling desire moving our hearts: “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Phil. 3:10–11). Paul isn’t talking about earning his way to heaven. He’s signing up for whatever it takes to get there. So do we. The worst this world can do is send us on to heaven!

There is no rock bottom too deep for Jesus.

And that’s good news, isn’t it?

Reflection Questions

1. Draw up a list of contrasts between our culture’s ideas about aging and death and the Bible’s ideas about aging and death. And what do you see as the practical differences these two views tend to make?
2. How does the Bible change your thoughts about your own death in this world? What fears does the Bible put to rest in your heart? What hopes does the Bible inspire in your heart?

The stories and circumstances of this world don't always make sense, but we know that God is closest to us when we are at rock bottom. Find encouragement in the good news of Jesus, even when it doesn't make sense.

For more information, or to read Ray Ortlund's full book, follow this link: Crossway.org/books/good-news-at-rock-bottom-tpb/