The Benefits of death

We never stop to think of the benefits of death do we? You might find it strange that I have even chosen sucha title. What benefits could there be?

When a loved one passes away,we cannot help but be sad and reminiscent of the life that was past, and we pause and consider that such a person is now in a better place. We don’t see death as beneficial at all; we hate death, for it takes life, the essence of existence.Death steals life...or does it?


Have you considered what you eat? Have you considered that the food we eat brings us life? Without it we ourselves would die. But in the same thought, consider that all the food you eat for nourishment and growth is dead. All forms of food, whether animals, plants or seeds first have to die, or die in our stomachs to bring us life. So in a very real and beneficial way, the death of animals and plants provide and sustain us with life.

This example is not only seen in nature but nature itself speaks of a greater truth that was demonstrated by Jesus Christ. He lived, and died, and His death brought life to the entire cosmos. Without him dying, we would not be able to experience real life.

Death has a purpose and it is beneficial to us and essential for new life.

We can experience death at various levels in our lives - emotional, mental, spiritual and physical. A severe marital disappointment might kill you on the inside; you might eventually become spiritually dead because you keep on disobeying the voice of God deep within you, or you might become mentally dead after severe trauma, stress, overexertion and the like. The last death we are to experience is physical death – when we have come to the end of what our bodies can endure...

But for those who are believers in Christ, death has very liberating purpose.

In Paul’s own attempts to live as a devout Jew he found death:

Rom 7:9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

Here we can see that the law brings death.

In essence the law is attempting to perform in your own capacity and strength.

But this death that the law produces has a definite purpose and that purpose is to bring us to a new kind of life.

Gal 2:19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Here Paul says the through the Law he died. In other words, it was the Law that killed him - His own attempts to live righteously towards God. It killed Him spiritually, so that he might be dead to the law but ALIVE to God.

You see, as natural men and women we are born in a sinful state. We are self-willed, self-pleasing, and most importantly we strive to be self-righteous. In our natural state, we are self-centered beings. And when you bring a self-centered being to God, that being naturally wants to be self-justified and become even more self-righteous.It seems to be the disease of human nature. We seem to want to do things ourselves and be proud of it. But in this we don’t at first realize the fallacy of it all.

The Law takes us from a false, self-righteous and empty state of living to an eventual guilty,self-loathing, and ashamed state. This then leads to an inner death if fully pursued. An eventual death to self-attempts.

But for us, Believers inChrist it does not stop there. This death is to bring us to the end of ourselves so we can take hold of the rope already passed to us.

God knows this deprived way of life and provides a way out, into the true nature of who we really are made to be. God’s intention is not that we should live in our fallen state of depravity, emptiness and failing self efforts but he wants to give us life, the life of His son, the Zoe breath and life of the Creator of the Universe pulsating through and filling every area of our minds, hearts, spirits and bodies.

But how do we get from our fallen state into this glorious, true way of being? We cannot do it ourselves,for that would once again amount to self-effort...It is something that cannot be attained, earned, or bargained for. The only way to inherit this Zoe Life of God is to die.

Col 3:3 - For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Rom 15:35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed


42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There isa natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

We died Spiritually with Christ and were already raised to new life with Him. Those who believe the Gospel find their inner selves dead in it’s own attempts to follow and please God as they realize how incapable they are. But in that death, the “self” died and conceded to Christ’s life through us. We were raised on the inside to New Life. We now find that Christ indeed lives within us.

Our salvation is not yet complete, for we have not yet died off all forms of old life. You might have died and be resurrected in your spirit and heart but your body is yet hindering the fullness of salvation...

In this day our salvation will be complete – Where we will be saved wholly at all levels as well as physically.

We as can look forward and embrace death as the catalyst for eternal life!


1 Cor 15: 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”


55 “O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”


56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Cup Of Life

This beautiful silence cannot be ignored
as I stand here
I am alone
in this world that surrounds me
there is no one else
at last, I am at peace
I have reassurance of perfect stillness and harmony

From the ship
a welcome wind hails as I stare into the vastness
and the smell of rain fills my lungs and veins
pure blue sky and the serenity of deep dark waters beneath

frees my spirit...

and now

with a fixed clarity, I am well presented with greatness,

Before me
Look!

Majestic mountains of cloud thrive in the open space of sky
while lightning bolts of silver dance over the timeless, pulsating abyss

approaching us, is this frightening, magnificent squall

Are you afraid?

Soon we shall be deeply and completely drenched
in turmoil and tornadoes
hale and havoc
evasion is no longer an option

The darkened wonder echoes with a deep cry,
announcing its imminence

I am ready
eager and expectant to drink the fullness of this cup

the cup of death and destruction you ask?

No,
the cup of life!

Just another Cliché

We all have something that makes us tick. For some its adventure, others tranquility and peace, some love technology or even money. What makes you tick? What brings you alive?


I've had many dreams and wishes in my life and many of them have already been realised. But through it all I've realised that there is only one thing that can fully bring me alive. And that is : "The Gospel Of Jesus Christ". If you are not aquatinted with this religious "mumbo jumo" or if you are a bit "Religious" this may seem odd or weird to you. But really, the Gospel, the power of God is the only thing that can truly satisfy in this life.

The Gospel declares God's closeness. It declares your inclusion in Him - The creator of all things - The Alpha and Omega - Your true father - Infinite Power - Infinite Love - Infinite Wisdom and compassion.

In the light of "Religious mumbo jumbo" the paragraph above seems so cliche. So - "I've heard it all before". Ja Ja...

God had to shake my foundations a bit to make me see the reality that is Him. But over the years we become so familiar with "Christianese" (The Christian Language) that we lose the real power and revelations of God. We think, feel and experience so in the parameters of conventional Christianity that we give God the outside seat. My goodness...

This quote comes to mind - "Format my brain, change my name and let me see your glory again"

CS Lewis writes in "Mere Christianity" that he believes that not all religions are completely false. He believes that some are closer to the truth than others. Some see a part of God. Some even experience a part of God but do not have the full revelation of Him. Even so it is in the bible. Israel only saw in part. They were lead by God throughout thousands of years and God progressively revealed himself to them and then finally He revealed Christ (which ironically was not within their parameters of thinking and they ended up rejecting His revelation).

Are we sometimes too Religiously minded? You may read this and think of all the sermons you've heard that suggested that we as Christians are too "Religious" and should get rid of religion. And skip over considering that you might still be religious...In the end it's our pride that keeps us from seeing and receiving the truth. It's because we are "Adults" in our reasoning, thinking and experiencing God that we become satisfied, filled and really bored with it all. Our childlike "Learning" has become dull and we sub-consciously exchange spiritual revelation and experience with head knowledge.

The other day I came across a Mystic with the name of Robert Bruce. He specialises in Astral Projection where he teaches others to consciously leave their bodies and explore "Astral Planes" as he calls them. He goes on to explain how he through the years traversed higher and higher into more extravagant planes(dimensions) and the things he experienced in each of these planes. In one of his writings he tells that he has accessed "high" dimensions with extreme discipline, energy and concentration :

"This is a warm, abstract world filled with utter peace and infinite love. It is a dimension of pure White. There is no sight or sound perception here other than the all pervading, brilliant White. In this dimension you very quickly relinquish conscious thought and individuality. You cannot think for long once you enter here and there is no need or desire to do so. There is an irresistible urge drawing you into a quiet stillness. It is like being immersed in warm, pure White cotton wool. In this world you cease to be an individual and you become, PART OF THE ONE. You also cease to be male or female. In a way this is like returning to the Mother's womb. You are surrounded, absorbed and assimilated by infinite loving warmth, understanding, forgiveness and atonement. AT-ONE-MENT

Time here ceases to have any meaning. If you enter this world you will never, ever want to leave it, you cannot leave it, until your physical body calls and drags you back."

Am I a Mystic? No. Did Robert Bruce have a spiritual encounter? Probably yes. Does he have the full revelation? Probably not...

What took him decades to accomplish you and I can experience consistently every day. We have full access to the fullness of "The One" - Jesus Christ 24/7.

We know Him personally. And we know His name, or is it just another Cliché?

The Alpha and Omega

Jesus was not just a new testament prophet, or a spiritual guru. He is the alpha and omega. The beginning and the end. Within him all things consist and have their origin and everythign was created through him. In Him all things find their meaning and full purpose.

At the fullness of times, this Jesus was incarnated into human flesh and by doing so, he was proclaiming a loud message through his death and ressrrrection. He was saying somehing to the entire human race. Not just with the words that he spoke, but with his life and death.

Many have misunderstood His teachings and purpose and have in fact turned the tables on the clear message that he came to proclaim.

Today, if you are alone, empty and wanting – If you feel a spiritual lack and don’t know where to look, look to Jesus Christ, the one through whom you were created, the blueprint of your original design. His name means saviour. And as the account of John tells us : “Call His name Jesus, for he will save the people from their sins”.

Faith is not hard work

Faith is such an important part of the believer’s life. The new covenant is filled with the words believe and faith whereas the old covenant is filled with the actions of people, or the word : DO.

These two words stand in contrast to each other. The old covenant’s purpose was to bring those who lived under it to the end of themselves. It was to show them that their own deeds cannot bring them into a right stand with God, and that they do not in themselves have what it takes to make the grade. The DOING was to produce a humility and readiness to accept the DOING of the saviour, by faith.

Many times we still live with the same law based mindset in the new covenant, we just transfer the same “law principles” to the new covenant. For instance we say : “In order to be saved I must believe”

If you analyse that statement then nothing has changed from the old covenant to the new. For YOU must still do something to be saved! Nothing has changed.

If we look at a crucial verses pertaining to salvation in Romans and Galations we can start to see where we’ve missed it :

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference…

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
King James Version (KJV)

Studying these verses in the King James version we see the striking difference when comparing them to other translations. In other translations the words “Faith OF Christ” is replaced with “Faith IN Christ.” It might not seem like a big deal, but when one takes the bible seriously and interprets it that (Rom 3:22) one receives righteousness by your own faith in Christ, you can easily and subtly come to the conclusion that your own faith in Christ saves you.

The opposite is true. Christ saved you without your own help. You do not save yourself. Christ’s faith was sufficient to save you. He had enough faith to go through the cross and trust that God would raise him from the dead. He had faith on your behalf. Whats more, he accomplished all the requirements of the Law on your behalf, paid your debt, and at the cross reconciled the world to God.(2Cor 5)

What part do we have then?

Simple. We hear, and as a result of hearing this good news, we naturally believe. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Do I say that faith IN christ is not nessecary? Not at all. But by hearing of what Christ has already done on your behalf, being persuaded by it we naturally start to bear the fruit of Christ’s faith.

I could go on, but I hope the point is made.

So then faith is not a benchmark to be reached in order to be saved, if it were we could always start to ask how much faith is required and soon realise that none of us has what it takes. Faith is produced when we believe the Good News of Jesus Christ. In the end only Christ had enough faith, you and I merely hear of his great accomplishments and let His faith permeate through our lives. From faith to faith. (From God’s faith to ours.)

Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

An Intro

Throughout my life I have had a passion for God and His word but that passion was many times without understanding.

When I just came to know the lord, when my eyes were opened and I saw His glory and splendour for the first time, I was without religious mindsets. All of this was new to me. In all of that ecstasy of being filled with the spirit and being baptised I experienced the closeness of God in such a way that I cannot explain. Somehow things made sense. Everything made sense in a weird spiritual way, that was hard to understand and explain with my mind but my spirit seemed to bask in the simplicity of it all.

It was only later when I started to listen to teaching and read the bible (without understanding) that the information that my mind received started to conflict with my spirit. I became burdened. Maybe you have become too.

It is sad how our minds start to override our spirits. We trust rather in reasoning and and intellectualism than the spirit of God.

Later in my life, when the bliss of the holy spirit wore off and I was starting to get bound by religion again I would now and again hear a “truth” preached. A preacher would say something and my spirit would leap alive and sort of shout out : “That’s the truth!”. These “Truth”experiences would then start to lay the foundation mentally. The more my mind started to become renewed by Spiritual truth, the more I would be in syncronization. Mind, spirit and emotions all synced to the truth of God’s word.

It is to be noted that I do not seek to establish my own doctrines or views bases upon my own spiritual experiences but I rather want to show that the views held are in line with the bible in its correct context. Ill discuss the context of the scriptures some other time.

I have gone from being burdened to being free. And that freedom has produced a deeper love for God from where the fruits of the spirit flow effortlessly. I do not have all the answers, and certainly did not come up with all that will be shared here by myself but Im sure as you read, and ponder you also, along with many others will be impacted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

So sit back, relax, have a read, make a comment and "Release your River"!