Losing Battle Won

Many people assume they have more time on earth than they do, for death often comes unexpectedly.  There were likely many young ANZACs who grew up assuming they would live to old age and see their children's children who perished on the Gallipoli peninsula 110 years ago.  In war, winning battles is never assured:  having fighters wounded and losing their lives is almost guaranteed.  It takes great courage to bravely fight in what seems to be a "losing battle," and ANZAC Day is a reminder of the sacrifice made by willing Diggers who embraced their duty at the cost of their lives.

While Christians are not guaranteed a long life on earth, we are given assurances of eternal life by faith in Christ.  The psalmist struck a contrast between those who assume their lives will continue perpetually and those who place their faith in God in Psalm 49:14-15:  "Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling. ¹⁵ But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me. Selah"  See how the psalmist knew for certain God would redeem his soul from the power of the grave, and God would receive him.  What peace, joy and rest this provides us in a world where death and taxes are more expected than eternal life.

The psalmist spoke prophetically of what Jesus would bring to light through the Gospel.  Our recent observance of Easter shows the redemptive power of God by Jesus Christ defeating death by His resurrection after being crucified.  The night before His crucifixion Jesus told His disciples in John 14:3-6, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know." ⁵ Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" ⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  40 days after Jesus rose from the dead, the Father received Him up into heaven as He ascended in view of His disciples.  Based on the atoning sacrifice of Christ, His victory over sin and death, and the promises of God's word, believers have full assurance of being redeemed and received by God after our bodies go the way of the earth.

Those who receive Christ will be received by Him and born again as God's children as we read in John 1:10-13:  "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."  In a world where might makes right, God gives the right to become children of God by faith in Jesus.  It is not by fighting but by humbling ourselves and having simple faith in God we are granted victory over death no army or champion can obtain, having peace with God today and eternal life forever by His grace.