THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17).

Devotion 14 of 27

ILLUMINATION THROUGH THE GOSPEL

Like a ruthless marauder, death has run roughshod over our race. The landscape of every continent is cluttered with the graves of humanity--a telling epitaph to the enormity of sin. The blessings of life and immortality are hidden by transgression and guilt. No amount of academic excellence can uncover them! The power of persuasion is not sufficient to unlock the mystery of identity with God and everlasting life.

These are matters concerning which the sages of old had little insight. As great as Moses was, he said little about the other side of death. Godly Job knew of blessedness beyond this life, but was limited in his perspective. He knew in his flesh he would see God for himself, but knew no details about it (job 19:26). Solomon, with all of his wisdom, was nearly destitute of an understanding of anything beyond this life. He did not speak at all concerning "eternal life." By his own admission, his heart was set on knowing things "under the sun" (Eccl 1:13).

Both Job and Solomon spoke of death as though it were the conclusion of all things. It was not that they were spiritually obtuse. Rather, matters relating to eternal life were simply not revealed to them. Those who go to them for an explanation of death and what follows are not wise. Neither of these men was given wisdom in these matters.

But we are not left hopeless. The Gospel illuminates both life and immortality- the here and the there; the now and the then. The refreshing and penetrating rays of the Gospel open up the dark tomb, and remove the veil between earth and heaven. "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light THROUGH THE GOSPEL" (2 Tim 1:10). It will do no good to seek illumination concerning life and immortality in Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. Neither, indeed, can required enlightenment be found in the Prophets. That was not their ministry. To be certain, such enlightenment cannot be found in etymological research.

Only after Jesus had conquered death were "life and immortality" brought to light, or illuminated and clarified. Prior to that illumination Solomon said, "Vanity of vanities . . . all is vanity . . . all is vanity and vexation of spirit. . . . the day of death is better than the day of one's birth" (Eccl 1:2,14). After "life and immortality" had been "brought to light," Paul said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil 1:21), and "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord" (2 Cor 5:8). The vast difference between his view and that of Solomon was owing to the Gospel.

Solomon said, "for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest" (Eccl 9:10). We are told, however, of at least two saints who gained considerable knowledge AFTER their bodies were consigned to the grave. Moses was buried, yet he appeared "in glory" with Jesus on the Mount of transfiguration. We are told he joined Elijah in speaking with Jesus "about His decease, which He was about to accomplish" (Lk 9:31). Neither Moses nor Elijah spoke of Christ's death while in this world. How were they able to speak about it afterward?

Too, Jesus gave an account of a man who was comforted in Abraham's bosom on the other side of death. He also gave a dialog that occurred between a man in hell and Abraham. In that conversation, Abraham referred to "Moses and the Prophets." He also was aware of the man's five brothers, who were still on the earth (Lk 16:19-31). Abraham lived hundreds of years before Moses and the Prophets. How is it that he knew of them after he died and was buried. I am aware that some will say Luke 16 is a parable. That is not, however, what the Scriptures say. Further, if it is a parable, it is certainly unlike any other parable Jesus spoke. Ordinarily, parables take earthly realities and compare them to spiritual ones. But if the account of rich man and Lazarus is a parable, Christ took something impossible, and even contradictory of what some perceive to be truth, and compared it with some Kingdom reality.

Even in the case of the Lord Jesus, Peter mentions that "He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah" (1 Pet 3:19). Later, clarifying this point, Peter affirms "the gospel was preached also to those who are dead" (1 Pet 4:6). That rules out the Spirit of Christ preaching in Noah (something never clearly affirmed in Scripture). Noah did not preach a Gospel. There was no known good news in his day.

Since "life and immortality" have been brought to light, believers "seek for glory, and honor, and immorality"--and do so with zeal and insight (Rom 2:7). Death is not simply viewed as something "better" than a troublesome life, but as
"gain." To consider a person walking in the communion of the Holy Spirit and the fellowship of Christ to experience "gain" by having that condition interrupted by death, does not seem reasonable to me. Beside that, John saw the "souls" of them who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus. They were conscious, aware of circumstances upon the earth, and crying out for the vindication of their blood (Rev 6:9-10). There was Divine communication with those souls, who were told to rest a while.

What good news to have life and immortality brought to light! The glad tidings are that Jesus has "abolished death!" He does not say it WILL be abolished, but that IS abolished. That means we do not need to live under its domination any more! Praise the Lord! Now we know that God has "wrought us" to inhabit our house from heaven (2 Cor 5:5). In the meantime, He has given us His Holy Spirit, thereby sweetening the cup of life.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You through Jesus Christ for shedding light upon both here and there, and now and then. Thank You for an illuminating Gospel.

-- Tomorrow: UNEQUAL YOKES --