September 16

Life in Christ

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” — John 11:25-26 BSB

Martha believed in the resurrection at the last day, but that seemed far away, while her heart craved a present comfort. Jesus spoke to this longing when He told her that He is the resurrection and the life. His words show us that Christ Himself bridges the gap between eternity and the present, bringing the hope of resurrection and eternal life into our lives now, filling the dark chasm of death with light.

The resurrection isn’t far away, because it’s all in Christ’s hands. When His believers die, they sleep in Him. They aren’t really dead. In fact, those who believe in Christ never truly die. What we call death is only a transition—a passage into the immediate presence of Christ. Christ has abolished death. He took on death in all its terror, so now it’s just an entrance to glory for His people. He absorbed the darkness and fear of death when He passed through it Himself, leaving behind a bright path for His followers.

If we could truly grasp the truth of eternal life as it’s revealed in the gospel, it would remove the gloom from the graves of our loved ones. Those who are still living are in Christ, and those who have passed away are with Christ. In Him, we are still united. We are all part of one family—some have crossed over, some are crossing now, and soon we will all be together.

The truth of everlasting life gives us marvelous strength when we truly understand it. Death isn’t the end of anything but mortality, sin, and imperfection. Life continues, fuller, richer, and nobler, with greater capacity for joy beyond the event we call death. We will never die.