Death. Some people say it's the ultimate fear.
Most of us have an opinion or at least a belief about death. Sometimes people are cavalier about it. A man I know once said, "I'm not afraid of death. It's getting there that scares me." Others take a logical route in an attempt to remove death's sting. Benjamin Franklin is credited with clarifying that death and taxes are the only certainty in life. While both of these statements may be true, they're really not helpful.
What would you do if you knew you only had one month to live? One Month to Live is a sermon series I used a few years ago that challenged us to think about the way we live. We were inspired to take a serious and truthful look at our values. If we are not clear about what we value, we spend our lives chasing after things that keep us busy but stand in the way of truly fulfilling the purpose God has for us. The dash became a significant symbol for us during the series. You can learn more about the dash here.
I believe that Jesus Christ is the only sure thing in life. His resurrection and life are God's ultimate answer to every question I may have about ultimate ends. In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul states that all creation waits to be liberated from its bondage and decay. I hold onto this message because I have hope that not only will people that I love be with me in heaven but my little dog Mulligan will joyfully leap into my arms and lick my face again.
Salvation is defined as being saved or protected from harm and being saved or delivered from a dire situation. In religion, salvation is stated as saving one's soul from sin and its consequences. Death is a result of sin and occurs to all creation. The truth is we all need to be rescued and Jesus is the only one who can do it. We cannot save ourselves. We can't handle death on our own. Jesus is fully alive. He stands as a contradiction to the statement, "God won't give you more than you can handle." I can't handle it. But Jesus can. He already did. Absolutely. Powerfully. Eternally.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8