LIFE AND DEATH by L. A. Phippeny

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 29, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 51.

LIFE AND DEATH.

By L. A. Phippeny

BY L. A. PHIPPENY.

"I AM come that they might have life." John 10:10.

The two great opposing principles with which man has to do are those of life and death. Life is of God, and death is of Satan. Life as a principle is the everlasting life of God, the life which we have through Jesus Christ. Death is the result, or wages, of sin, and is the lot of all mankind, and whatsoever is connected with the curse. Sin is the transgression of the law of God, and death, in its fullness, means total annihilation of organism; and such eternal death will be the reward of all who fail to secure everlasting life.

Even the present earthly life, or duration of man's existence, is the chiefest thing he can claim on this earth, though it be in sin, and limited by sin. Of what supreme importance, then, is everlasting life, in view of man's condition under sin, and the fearful result of continuing in it. A comparison of the two is a comparison of the things of God with the things of man, and the Lord himself presents this contrast: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways." Isa. 55:9.

The implied thought in the verse of Scripture used as a text is that all are without life, that they are dead. For this reason he—the Son of God—is come, that they may be made alive,—brought again from the dead. This is the exact situation, and this understanding of it takes in the whole question. The Lord told Adam that in the day he should eat of the forbidden fruit he should surely die, meaning that in that day death would take the place of life as the reward of his doings. Man sinned, and so death passed upon all men. All have departed from life, and are therefore accounted as dead, "alienated from the life of God." But "God so

loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. The condition of all mankind, as spiritually dead because of sin, is so often and fully brought out in the Scriptures that it is said of those who obtain life through Christ that they are passed from death unto life. John 5:24.

Life, then, is the Christian's hope. It is the object concerning man for which the Son of God came to earth. It is the purpose and end of the gospel. The apostle, writing of the "purpose and grace" of God, says it "is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. 1:10. "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life," is an injunction calling attention to the special treasure in the word, and revealing the chief importance of this subject.

It would seem that a sober, candid consideration of the situation would lead every soul to make sure of having everlasting life. As in a worldly business proposition the results are always before one's mind controlling and directing his dealings, so in the business of one's soul the results should be constantly before the mind; and as the interests at stake are incomparably greater than worldly interests, the thought given and the care shown in this most practical of enterprises should be of the most earnest and unswerving nature. Life is at stake. Will we have it, or will we not?

The matter of whether we have it or whether we do not lies wholly with each individual, and is purely a matter of one's will. The Lord has plainly stated what his will is in the case: "This is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life." John 6:40. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Eze. 33:11.

Whatever else may be included, in a matter of practical living, in the will of God, this one thing stands out prominent, that it is his will that every man may escape final death, and have eternal life. In this appeal from the God of heaven to the "house of Israel," and in the expression of the will of God, are revealed untold love and mercy to a sinful race. Notice the conditions. Man lives because of the care of his Creator, and in the very nature of things ought to order himself in harmony with the laws of his benefactor. In the nature of the case, also, he cannot continue to live contrary to God. This is where sin has brought man; and when God's purposes are accomplished, death will be the end of sin and sinners; for sin is contrary to God, and in direct opposition in every way to his law. And now, while man is in sin, though meriting death, he is sustained in his present life by the power of God, and heaven's choicest gift is offered him,—everlasting life,—if he will but turn from sin and take it.

The will of God means much, therefore, to every man. There is due to the Giver of life the highest gratitude possible by the recipient of the blessing, and that is obedience. The will of God is not idly expressed, and his gifts cannot be slightingly or heedlessly passed by without due recompense. Every gift of God is good and for man's good. Life is his best gift, and if refused, man is the sufferer for his own neglect. There is, then, an exceeding great and solemn obligation to heed well the will of God.

With the gift through Christ comes also the help of the same power that brings the sinner again from the death of sin. It is a practical matter of faith, and the freer and more practical the faith, the more precious and available the promise: "He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:25.