Who Hath Abolished Death

II Tim.1:10-11 - Who hath saved us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death...

This written by a man who was shortly going to die. But Paul emphatically proclaims in verse 12 "for I know Whom I have believed". Consider the ambiance surrounding the great apostle as he is led of the Holy Spirit to pen this last letter. No praise music but his lips. No sermon tapes but his memory. No encouraging phone calls. No uplifting e-mails. And his own beheading drawing ever closer and he says "I am now ready to be offered".

Offered? Paul still refers to his own life as an offering to the Lord Jesus and heaven gazes downward to watch as Paul finishes his course and remains faithful to His Lord. The savagery of Paul's death is repugnant and abhorrent to the angelic hosts, but it is a brilliant jewel in the diadem of God's Risen Son. The son of Benjamin's tribe will soon see the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the same One he met on the Damascus Road years ago.

Paul is led out of the cell and unceremoniously escorted to the awful place of death where the executioner waits to fulfill his role. This is no fictional story, this actually happened. Paul kneels before the blade that will momentarily transport him into the place that is "far better". Can you hear Paul speaking to his Savior just before he leaves this earth?

"Jesus, I know You wait on the other side for me and I am faithfully coming. I give my life as a sweet smelling savour, and may the closing of my life bring you glory".

Oh but do not mourn, rejoice. At the moment the sharpened iron slices Paul's earthly neck he is, in the twinkling of an eye, transported into the very presence of the Reigning Lord Jesus Himself. His reward, his crown, the vision that Paul has desired since that day on the Damascus Road, Paul is home. You see Paul has not died - his Lord has abolished death. He who hath the Son hath life.

The inheritance Peter revealed is now his. Brothers and sisters, believing followers of the Life-Giver Himself, there is no more death. No sting, no grave. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. There is no earthly day or event that is worthy to be compared with that day. When a man born blind asks what is the color red like, how can we reply? He has no reference point. He cannot understand what color itself is, much less comparing colors.

The Apostle Paul has now seen the unspeakable, the unimaginable, the indescribable. And so shall all who are of the tribe of the Lion of Judah. Looking unto Jesus...

Halleluiah