Crossing from life to death (John 5:24-26)

Scripture Reading:
(24) I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (25) I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the son of god and those who hear will live.


Observations:
(1) The significance of the crossing.

The first point which I would like to make with regard to the above passage relates to the importance of what Jesus is talking about - particularly his reference to crossing ‘over from death to life’ in verse 24

In life, some crossings are not overly consequential. Crossing a creek or river, for example, does not does not usually have much of an impact on anything – all that happens is that you get to the other side.

Others, however, involve life changing consequences. Crossing over the DMZ, the heavily fortified border zone separating North and South Korea – were it possible without being arrested or shot - would be one such example.

But the kind of crossing Jesus is talking about is on anther scale altogether. Consider how he describes this: from death to life. Pretty significant, isn’t it? Pure black and absolute darkness on one side, pure white and absolute purity on the other. You could not get two more polarised positions.

The contrast is mind-boggling. So too are the consequences: this is nothing less than our eternal destiny that we are talking about.


2) The meaning of the crossing.

What does it mean – to cross from death to life as Jesus puts it?

From my understanding, the implications of this crossing fall into two categories: those which relate to our current life here on earth; and those relating to our destination when we depart:


· Implications on earth.

First, let’s deal with the first category.

Obviously, anyone who is reading this is alive in a physical sense. But that does not necessarily mean we are alive spiritually. When god made us, I believe that he interwove into each and every one of us was a deep seated need. A need for meaningful and intimate relationships: first and foremost with him; and secondly with each other.

As our maker, he is our father. We belong to him and with him and his family. Whenever we live outside of this, we are not living the way we were meant to. It’s as if we are cut off from our family and our birthplace. Something is missing.

Conversely, when we accept god’s wonderful gift of forgiveness and salvation, our relationship with him is restored. Now we are living as we were meant to, and deep down, we hold a sense of wholeness and satisfaction. Now we are complete.


· Eternal implications.

More important still are the implications with regard to our eternal destination.

The kind of transformation that Jesus is talking about means going from a position whereby we were destined for eternal separation from god – cut off and living in complete darkness and coldness to one in which we are destined for a perfect relationship with god our father in heaven. It means literally going from being destined for a place of eternal punishment to being destined for one eternal glory.

Friend, I urge you. Come out of the cold. Come in to the warm, dry, fire of god’s family and his love.

Accept the sacrifice of his son on the cross as payment for your sins in the past, present and future.


Prayer:
Dear heavenly father,

Lord, how can we put words on this kind of life-transforming event? Only you, lord, have such incredible powers, and we can only marvel in awe at who you are and what you give.

Lord, I pray now for any readers who are not in relationship with you: that they be led to you, and that they experience the same kind of amazing transformation which I myself have undergone according to your grace. Let them come out of the darkness and into the warmth of your never-ending love.

These things I pray.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our lord,

Amen.