THURSDAY 2ND APRIL
MEMORISE: And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelations 14:13
READ: 2nd Kings 13:14-21
The Bible mentions two kinds of death: physical or temporal, which is the termination of life on earth and then eternal death. The latter is the final and complete separation from God. When temporal death occurs, it opens the way to eternal life for children of God, but leads to eternal death for those who did not accept Jesus Christ during their physical existence.
Life is full of challenges that bring stress to the body and tension to the soul. The Bible presents this dilemma in Job 14:1 by saying “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” As a result, the ageing process take its toll on everyone to the point that many aged persons become totally dependent on the society and are unable to help themselves. 2nd Kings 13:14 says:
“Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face…”
The Bible records Elisha’s sickness as a natural occurrence and not a result of punishment. Great Bible characters like Isaac, Jacob and King David had almost identical experiences in old age, and a similar fate awaits all human beings. However, temporal death enable the body to escape the agony of sickness, particularly that which come as a result of old age. But for death, my Father-in-the-Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi would still be enduring the agony of a body weakened by age.
Thanks be to God, he is now at rest. Revelation 14:13 and Revelation 21:4 tell us sweet and wonderful things that God reserves for His children after they experience temporal death. The saints will enter into rest from earthly labours and begin to reap the fruits of righteousness. They will not experience eternal death, sorrow, crying or pain.
I pray that as you close your eyes in physical death, you will rise to the eternal life of joy and peace with the Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus.
KEY POINT: Temporal death marks the end of the physical life but not the end of existence. Seek eternal life to escape external death.
