“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

—John 11:25–26

I’m on the record for loving Christmas Eve worship. The only thing that supersedes it is Easter. Yet the two are intimately entwined and inseparable, for Jesus Christ first had to be born and live, so He could die and rise for the sins of the world and then rise.

I was exposed to the reality of death at a young age. I have a very clear memory of attending the funeral of my adopted dad’s father, when I was about five years old. Although I didn’t know him well, I could sense the sadness of the adults around me. The hushed conversations, shedding of silent tears, and heavy hands resting on slumped shoulders conveyed the seriousness and gravity of the situation, even if I didn’t fully understand what death was or what it meant.

Since that first funeral, I’ve attended many more, both for my biological family and for my church family. It has been a consistent reality in my life—as it is for all of us who live in this fallen world, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

I honestly don’t know if I was afraid of death before I was made a Christian, but afterward, the confidence I had in Christ’s death and resurrection alleviated any and all concerns I had about my eventual demise.

For instance, when I had my first major surgery some years ago, several people asked me if I was nervous. I’d reply, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. So, I figure I’m good either way!” (Philippians 1:21). Some people were incredulous at this attitude, but I sincerely believe that both staying here to serve the Lord and my neighbors or to go to heaven and be with the Father are equally good outcomes.

What Jesus’s resurrection means to me is that I can live without fear, as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” I don’t have to fear sickness, death, or anything else this world can throw at me. Each and every day, I can choose to live a life that reflects the truth that Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Does this mean I won’t ever experience negative thoughts and emotions? Of course not. But what it does mean is that the overriding tenor of my days are joyful and hopeful. And I can abide in the Lord’s peace while I anticipate the day He returns to make all things new.

Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

With love in Christ,

Amanda

xoxo

Scripture taken from the New King James Version^®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.