The Brevity of Life

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."--James 4:14

Certainly, death is an unpleasant subject. While it's the destiny of every human being, few people want to think about it.

Some folks foolishly believe that death is for others, but it isn't for them. They imagine that somehow, a miracle drug will be discovered that will allow them to live forever.

Actually, eternal life was available to mankind a long time ago. It was provided by God in the form of fruit that grew from the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:22)

Unfortunately, the first couple Adam and Eve chose to eat the bad fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that the Lord had forbidden them from eating. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Because the first couple violated God's command by eating that forbidden fruit, they forfeited their right to eat from the tree of life that would've blessed them with eternal life. Death, which wasn't a part of God's plan for His creation, entered the human race with that sin. And death has been a curse upon mankind ever since.

Many people--including professing Christians--don't believe in the literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis. They believe that Genesis is just an allegorical account of the beginning of time that's not to be taken literally.

The Roman Catholic Church is among those that reject the literal interpretation of Genesis. Rather, the Catholic Church teaches a hybrid called, Theistic Evolution. What is Theistic Evolution? It's a theory that claims that God laid out the ingredients for life millions of years ago and then allowed life in all of its complex forms to evolve.

That's not what the Bible teaches. The Bible declares that God created the physical universe, the earth and all life forms in six literal days and then rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 1-2)

However, the Catholic Church debunks the Bible's account of creation. If the Catholic Church is right, then death entered God's creation long before Adam and Eve appeared. If the Catholic Church is correct, then what caused death to enter God's creation? And why? Did God somehow make a mistake?

The Bible teaches us that death entered the human race because of sin. And that sin had to be atoned for; first with animal skins that God provided to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve, (Genesis 3:21) and then through a system of animal sacrifices mandated by the Mosaic Law. (Leviticus 1-7)

However, that sacrificial system was inadequate for the remission of sin because those sacrifices had to be repeated endlessly. God finally provided the everlasting atonement for sin through His Son Jesus Christ who entered the world 2,000 years ago to become that atonement that God's infinite justice demanded. (Hebrews 9-10)

Christ's death on Calvary's cross for our sins rescued us from eternal death and damnation. However, our physical bodies still must die because "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God..." (1 Corinthians 15:50)

Though we will all die physically unless we're taken up in the Rapture, we will be resurrected by Christ with new immortal bodies that will never taste death again. (1 Corinthians 15:51-56) 

But only those who truly belong to Jesus Christ by faith will receive that incredible gift. The rest of mankind will be raised only for judgment, and then to be cast into the eternal lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

Do you fear death? You shouldn't unless you don't belong to God through His Son Jesus Christ. For, "God so loved the world that he gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Eternal life is that simple. And God wants everyone to receive it. By faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Not by faith in religious rituals, customs or dogmas.