Of all the billions of people who have lived on planet earth in the past 6000 plus years, only One has died what the Bible says is “the second death” (you will find it mentioned in Revelation 2:11 and 20:14).
That One is Jesus.
If He had not died our world’s “second death,” He would not have the right to accept the plaudits of the Samaritans who said He is “ the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).
By dying our “second death,” Jesus has earned the right to save us in His eternal kingdom, for “the wages of sin is death,” and that’s the real thing—the second (Rom. 6:23).
The idea that Jesus just went to sleep for a weekend is infinitely far from the truth. It has to be true that anyone who suffers the awful physical pain of crucifixion would want to be able to sleep for a weekend—it is so terrible. But that is not what Jesus did!
When He was on His cross, He screamed in agony, “My God why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). That rejection by His Father was worse than all the agony of physical crucifixion; He was dying the world’s second death, enduring the condemnation of the Father for the sin of the world (He was “made to be sin, who knew no sin,” (2 Cor. 5:21).
He bought all our sins with His blood; we have no right to keep them any longer! He bought all our souls with His blood—we don’t belong to ourselves any longer.
It’s just simple honesty that we give ourselves and all we have to Him; and that is the only way to be happy in this world in the midst of all the trials that we have.
That is the message of 2 Corinthians 5:20, 21—“be reconciled to God.” Don’t any longer be on the outs with Him. Be “one” with Him.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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