John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

The author of life itself was asking. The one who can usher any man or woman into eternal glory was asking. The one who has the keys to death and Hades was asking (Rev. 1:18). The one who performed miracles was asking. The one who would later walk out of the grave after three days was asking. When Jesus speaks, there is only one question for us to wrestle with:

Do you believe this?

Death stands at the end of every person’s journey. It is the great uniter of mankind, and…it is unavoidable. It certainly isn’t a comfortable subject for most people to discuss and oftentimes brings up painful memories of suffering and loss. How do you feel about your own death? I think most of us have a little bit of fear or nervousness about it, and that’s normal. I don’t look down on fellow Believers who struggle with the subject, but like Martha, we all have to decide whether to take Jesus at his word or not. Jesus was not saying that physical death would not come, but rather, that it would not have lasting significance. I love the way Charles Spurgeon put it:

“Those that believe in Jesus Christ appear to die, but yet they live. They are not in the grave—they are forever with the Lord. They are not unconscious—they are with their Lord in Paradise. Death cannot kill a believer, it can only usher him into a freer form of life.”

Do you believe this?

Have you ever been greeted by an usher? They are there to help guide you to where you belong. When the usher approaches, you are grateful for their help, and you know that you are in good hands. It is not a fearful thing, but a comforting thing. For the Believer, death is that usher. It arrives to take you to your rightful place. It is your friend, rather than your enemy. Do you believe this?

Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory? (1 Cor. 15:55)