Life and Death—Their Meaning.
By R. F. COTTRELL
Taking the Bible to mean what it says, it contains exceeding great and precious promises, even the promise of eternal life, a life that has no end, and that without a shade of sorrow, mourning, sickness, pain, or death. Terms may be used in a figurative sense. In the Scriptures, as in all other compositions, they are frequently so used; but all have a primary or literal meaning, and whenever they are used figuratively, there should be an allusion to the literal sense to give the figures force and meaning. For example: That which leads to eternal life is called eternal life: "And this is life eternal, to know God and Jesus Christ," etc. And on the other hand, a course which will end in death is called death. Hence, since sin will eventuate in death, the sinner is said to be dead in trespasses and sins. Again, "She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." Take away the literal signification of words, and your figures have no meaning. Abandon the primary meaning of words, and language has no determinate meaning. Men are divided in their beliefs. Let each give the Scriptures a figurative sense, in accordance with his creed, and they will remain divided, never coming to the knowledge of the truth. In the popular theology of the present day, men are supposed to be possessed of an undying nature. All are supposed to be destined to live eternally. Therefore, when they read, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life," they are forced, in order to harmonize these declarations with their pre-adopted creed, to say that life means happiness, and death means misery. Say they, "All men are destined to exist as long as God lives. They are sure of endless existence; therefore the promise of life and the threatening of death can only relate to an eternal life of happiness in one case, and misery in the other." But the Scriptures have given us no revelation of this immortal nature in man; but they represent him, since sin entered as a mortal, dying creature. Paul's language to the Romans would be properly rendered, "And changed the glory of the immortal God into an image made like to mortal man," etc. Chapter 1:23. If man has an immortal nature, we ought to find it revealed in connection with the account given of his creation. But no such revelation is given. On the contrary, we are informed that man was formed of the dust of the ground, and made alive by God breathing into his nostrils the breath of life. To this living soul, or person, God said, "In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." And when man had sinned, God passed sentence on him in accordance with the threatening. Said he, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it thou wast taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." No part is exempt. The conscious intelligent creature is told he was taken out of the earth, and must return to the earth. Adam is a living soul; but he is not to live forever. "Lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever," he is driven from the garden. In the Bible sense, to die, is not to live forever. "And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died." But a remedy is provided. Man is redeemed from death and brought back to life: Christ is the resurrection and the life. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Cor. 15:22. And to the faithful and obedient—the overcomer—he "will give to eat of the tree of life." They will again have access to that tree from which Adam was driven lest he should live forever in his sinful state. Doubtless those to whom the fruit of that tree is given again to eat will live forever. Will those who do not overcome, and consequently have no right to that tree, live just as long as the others? Christ, to redeem man from sin and death, died for him. He took upon himself the penalty that was due to man for his transgression. Was the penalty eternal life in torment? He died but lives again. Says he, "I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1:18. Believe what the Bible says, and all is plain and harmonious. Let the words of Scripture mean just what they do in other compositions, and they will be better understood, and will better commend themselves to the sense of mankind. There will be less mystery and muddle, and more faith. If the life promised is happiness and the death threatened misery, what need is there of the assurance so abundantly given, that in that life (happiness), there should be no unhappiness, that pain, sickness, sorrow, and tears should be no more? Without life there can be no enjoyment or positive happiness. Therefore the great promise is eternal life; but in addition to this we have the assurance that tears, sorrow and mourning shall cease, and none shall say, "I am sick;" for "there shall be no more pain."