“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
Revelation 1:18 NKJV
Just ask any human being on the planet and they’ll tell you that the thing most human beings fear, next to speaking in front of their classmates in middle school, is death. It is fear that has paralyzed so many people from being able to truly live and it is fear that causes so many people to be easily manipulated and controlled by those with power. And it is the fear of death that Satan has used to hold so many people in his grasp. Yet, Jesus says to your heart, “No more! Do not be afraid. You no longer have to fear death, for I have already conquered it for you!” John’s letter to us will be needed as we move forward to the end, because it reveals…
JESUS CHRIST IS CONQUEROR OVER DEATH FOREVER.
How else do you think the martyrs of the first three centuries of Christian history could courageously stare down lions in colosseums, the burning flames at the stake, or sing praises to God as they faced death, if they did not truly believe deep down in their hearts that Jesus Christ has conquered death for us forever!
For over 2000 years faithful followers of Jesus have believed in their very souls the declaration Jesus made to Martha in John 11:25-26, “… I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?””John 11:25-26 NKJV. No, like seriously. He’s asking you today just as surely as He asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” Do you really believe that He is the resurrection and the life? Because if you do not, then your mere profession of Christian faith is in vain. And as Paul said in 1st Corinthians 15:19 “… we are of all men the most pitiable.” I Corinthians 15:19b NKJV. However, if you do believe this, then the death of Jesus on the cross and His subsequent rising from the grave on the third day according to the Scriptures is your anthem of overwhelming victory! You will be able to join in the celebration with Paul when he said, “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.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:54-57 NKJV
You see, the person who doesn’t fear death on this planet is the kind of person you don’t want to mess with. They cannot be intimidated. They cannot be easily manipulated or controlled by the powerful. They stand up boldly and live fearlessly for the cause they believe in. And this is the exact kind of person Jesus Christ has literally called you to be! You are called to be bold and fearless for Christ and His Kingdom, because He has already conquered the thing that most people fear; death. And if He has conquered death forever, then He has surely conquered any other thing that may have you paralyzed with fear, for it is His perfect love that casts out fear from your mind.
Yet, there’s one more revelation of Himself that Jesus wants to impress deeply into your minds today, and it’s found beginning in verse 19…