The Day That Death Died

During an interview with a magazine editor a few years ago, actor Bradley Cooper reflected on his father’s death and how it caused him to address his own mortality.

He said “All of a sudden I was like, ‘Oh, right, I’m going to die too.’ . . . I was like, ‘Okay. This is death. And this is going to happen to me one day.’”

It’s true. One out of every one person will die. Yet something significant happened when Jesus rose from the grave.

Easter was the day that death died, because Jesus died. When Jesus died on the cross, He conquered sin. When Jesus rose from the dead, He defeated death.

He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25 NLT). Death died when Christ rose.

Now I don’t have to fear death as a Christian.

I’m not denying the fact that our bodies will stop functioning one day. I’m not ignoring the dangers we face. I know that people die. I know it well. My mother has gone on to Heaven. My father who adopted me is there too. And my son, Christopher, has been in Heaven for almost 12 years now.

But what I am saying is that our souls will live on in another place. That’s all because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead.

He took upon Himself the judgment of the Father that we should have faced so that we can have the hope of eternal life.

If you were to die today, do you have complete confidence that you will go to Heaven? Do you know that your sin is forgiven? Have you asked Jesus to come into your life? He’s just waiting for your invitation. He is just a prayer away.