Passing Away

Have you ever had to deliver bad news to someone? It's hard isn't it? Especially if a tragedy has occurred (like when someone has died) it is almost impossible to convey the bad news and be comforting at the same time. We try using euphemisms  like he passed away or he has gone to a better place instead of the more succinct language. No one likes to think about tragedy, and this is especially truth in our faith. Yet, in our faith the tragedy that occurred was not only crucial to the victory we have in  Jesus, but is crucial in our daily lives.

It was not only Jesus' life and resurrection that has saved mankind, it was also his death. God laid mankind's sin on Jesus and Jesus paid the consequences so that we could finally rejoin God's family. However, Jesus also charged us, he charged you and me, to pick up our cross daily to follow him. What are crosses used for? They are for putting things to death. Our faith is about life, and life eternal. However, to live that life we must not forget that we have parts of our lives that are not like God. Like Jesus did for us as an example, we are to put those parts of our lives to death. And as they pass away, we will know that the parts of our lives that remain, will last forever because they have been perfected by the one who has defeated even death.
Ref: 2 Cor. 5:21, Rom. 4:25, Luke 9:23, Gal. 5:25, 2 Cor. 4:16