Romans 14:7-9 “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”
Paul has instructed us that we owe a debt of love to one another (Rom 13:8). He has counseled us to live peaceably together without assuming to judge the Lord’s servants. We have been advised to not be so focused on our differences. Instead, we should recognize the intent with which we do things (Rom 14:3-6).
No matter how independent we might consider ourselves to be, we do not live our lives in a vacuum. Our lives have an impact on those around us. This is true while we live, and it is true when we die. It is true because God has knitted our hearts together in His love.
What wondrous love we have experienced to be blessed to realize that our lives belong to the Lord. It is wondrous to consider that He has called us to live unto Him. Our lives are hidden in His and He makes himself known to us while still in this mortal flesh. We bear the life of Jesus in these mortal bodies of ours (2Cor 4:10).
It is an obvious truth that as long as time stands, we will continue to die. There is great comfort in knowing that we do not cease to be His when this mortal frame ceases to function. However, it is not just in the death of these bodies that we die unto the Lord. If we truly live unto Him, then we must die daily to this carnal nature of ours (1Cor 15:31).
Paul wrote in the Galatian letter that he was crucified with Christ. If we are His, then we too were crucified with Him. That being the case, the life we now live is not ours, but Christ’s who lives in us (Gal 2:20). Therefore, whether we live or die, it is unto the Lord.
If our living and dying, in every sense of the word, is unto the Lord, then there is a purpose. It is not simply a matter of our existence running its natural course. In both our living and our dying, we honor God. The keeping of His promises to us are clearly seen in both aspects.
Neither our living nor our dying changes who we belong to. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. We are His by virtue of the great price He paid for us. He owns us by right of creation, and He owns us by right of redemption. His claim on us is just and irrefutable.
Consider, dear ones, the depth of love that God has for us. He sent (deliberately purposed) our Lord Jesus to lay down His life for us. Yet, such is His mighty power, that He not only laid it down, but He took it up again for us. And having taken it up again, He walked out of the tomb and is alive forever more for us. To this end Christ came to be Lord of both the living and the dead.
May we live and die in the joy of Lord!