“But we had this sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.” 

2 Cor. 1: 9-10 KJV

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the church at Corinth, having described how they had almost died while doing the Lord’s work in Asia (2 Cor. 1:8). And although the situation was dire, the Lord in His mercy delivered them from death.

Paul then rejoiced over the fact that the Lord’s work in the redeemed is both an immediate and an ongoing work of being delivered from death.

He states in verse 10 that the Lord has already delivered us from “so great a death”. He is referring to our initial death before coming to Christ. This is the great death that separates us from God.  The Word of God declares that before we came to Christ, “we were dead in trespasses and sins.” (Eph. 2:1).   

Paul then points out that the Lord “doth deliver”.   In other words, He continues to deliver!  That is, each day we are alive in this life, we are being delivered from the power of death both spiritually and physically.

But the ultimate work of Christ is that “He will yet deliver” us from death.  Death will continue to follow us until it ultimately takes hold of us.  But the good news is that death cannot touch us until it is our time.   (Job 14:5, Psalm 37:18).   And when that time comes, we have nothing to fear because the Lord has taken away “the sting of death” (1 Cor. 15:55).  Death can no longer hurt us! Its power over us has been totally broken once and for all!    Jesus has forever destroyed its power through the cross and His mighty resurrection!  Our God is the only One who has conquered death (Rev. 1:18).  And  He is the only One who raises the dead!  (John 11:25-26).   

So we can rejoice that we have been delivered,  we are continuing to be delivered, and will ultimately be delivered because “death is swallowed up in victory”.  (1 Cor. 15:54).

Rev. James W. Black     

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above  not on things on the earth. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.”   
Col. 3: 1-3 KJV 

In our world, people are constantly seeking after different things.  Some seek after sports, entertainment and pleasure.   Others seek after wealth, fame or political power.  Still others seek to accumulate things.   Such things often drive many peoples lives.  It is what motivates them.  All who are fully engaged in these things are seeking joy, contentment ,fulfillment and satisfaction. 

The Word of God encourages the redeemed, those who truly know the Lord, to seek Christ above all else.   That does not mean that we cannot enjoy doing other things in life.   We can and should enjoy life and all that the Lord has blessed us with. But it does mean that Christ impacts everything that we do!  In all that we do we seek to honor Christ  and glorify Him!  (1 Cor. 10:31).  If we do that then everything that we do will be done with honor, integrity and excellence.  We will do our very best in all things.

Seeking the Lord requires an investment on our part. It first requires that we acknowledge Him.  Even though His form is invisible to us, we recognize that He is with us!  We do that by faith, (Heb.11:1), knowing that the Word of God is true!  Christ said He would be with us.  (Matthew 28:20).  Second, it requires that we listen to Him.  We do that by reading His Word and listening, allowing it to speak to our heart.   And thirdly, it requires that we walk in obedience to what He reveals to us through His Word! As we begin to genuinely engage in these basic things, our eyes and our heart will be opened to God and we will begin to see Him actively operating in our daily lives. He always reveals Himself to those who truly want to know Him!   (Matthew 7: 7-8).

Rev. James Black