This is a GOOD day!

Even though today marks a black moment in history—the death of the only sinless person who ever lived, today is called Good Friday! It is good for a human-centered reason; Jesus died for our sins. It is good for an eternal reason too—He did not stay in the grave, but rose again and lives forever, interceding with God on our behalf, living for us that we might live for Him.

People of faith celebrate today and Sunday because we not only believe the biblical account of the death and resurrection of Christ and realize it is a well-documented fact of history, but we also know deeply in our hearts that it is true. We know an incredible assurance of the reality of His victory over sin and death. This is the most important event that ever happened and the most important gift that God offers to us and to all who will believe.

I’m reminded this morning that those who trusted God before Jesus came, lived, died and rose again also had this inner assurance. For instance, King David of Israel knew about life after death.

David was not a perfect man. He was attracted to another man’s wife, took her, arranged the death in battle of her husband, and was severely rebuked by the Lord. The child that was a result of his adulterous act became ill soon after he was born. David “pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.” He would not eat and his servants were very concerned. When the child died, they were afraid to tell him in case he harmed himself.

But they were surprised. When they finally told David that the child was dead, “David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.”

The servants were shocked. They asked him why he fasted and wept while the child was alive, but when the child died, he stopped and ate food.

David replied, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

David knew he would join his son in death, but this and other passages indicate that David also knew there would be a reunion after life is over. Death is not the end. Because of the word of God and the promises of God, life is eternal. Jesus came to not only insure it, but prove it.

In John 5, Jesus talked about life after death in very straight-forward terms. He said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

The point is that everyone will live forever, but there are two eternal realities where eternal life can be spent. One of those realities is condemnation and separation from God forever. The other is life in His presence and with all those who trust God for their salvation from sin.

David trusted God and he knew that he would see his infant son again in the presence of God. He knew his sins were forgiven, even adultery and murder, because God is merciful and because His Messiah would come and shed His blood for those sins. The Old Testament animal sacrifices were only a temporary ritual; he knew the reality was coming, the reality is Jesus.

I know my sins are forgiven too; large or small, they are covered by His blood. I also know that someday I will be with Him in eternity, and will even see David and that child, as well as all others who believe in Him. I know this deeply in my heart because He lives in me and gives me that assurance. I also know it is true because on the black and white pages of His Word, He says so.

************************************************
More good news: Yesterday our granddaughter got a job! Thanks to all who prayed. She still needs Jesus, but she is out of her depression and moving forward. Today also brings another answer to prayer; our friend from Scotland received her visa, and after months of waiting she is putting her house up for sale and will be moving to Canada!