Luke 24: 3 - 8 NKJV
There is a story in ancient Greek mythology about those who would pass from this world into the next after death. Upon death, a persons soul would journey to the river Styx, where the now bodyless soul would arrive on the rivers banks and attempt to cross to the other side. The other side being the underworld. One could conjur up a ride across the river from a boatman named Charon, who bore a suprising resemblence to the grim reaper. However, this ride across the river was by no means free. If your family had not buried you with a coin in your grave to cover the cost of this final ride, then you would not cross the river Styx. It seems that even the boatman needed a side gig. If you found yourself without the fare for the voyage across the river, then you could always attempt to swim across. Some made it...most didn't. So, what awaited you on the other side of the river Styx? Well, more waiting for the most part. See, the Greeks believed that once a soul crossed the river that it would wait for the opportunity to secure another body to start life over again as a infant. It seems that one could indeed have a new body of their choosing. What surprised me about this story were the similarities between this ancient Greek myth and our own christian beliefs. For are we are not also assured that death is not the end for ourselves as well? We may indeed ask ourselves, "O death, where is your sting?" {1 Corinthians 15:55}.
1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5: 1 -5 NKJV
One of my favorite verses from scripture comes from Luke 24. As the women arrived at the tomb of the risen Christ that morning the angels proclaimed His resurection..."Why do you seek the living among the dead?" Indeed, it is Christ Jesus Himself who has not only overcome death {Romans 6:9} but that we are no longer to fear that which Jesus has overcome {Philippians 1:21}. Indeed, why should we fear our own final journey when we have been assured by Jesus that we will be with Him forever? {Romans 8: 38-39}. I believe that it was for this very reason that the apostle Paul proclaimed that for him to live is Christ...and to die is gain {Philippians 1:21}. For if indeed the Spirit of Christ Jesus is within us as we live today {Galations 2:20}, then it is that we shall forever live with He who has overcome death. Death...where is your sting? The beautiful part of all of this is that we do not need to worry about paying that fare for our final voyage across the river. See, that debt has already been paid by Christ at the cross.
4“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said bto me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7“He who overcomes dshall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Revelation 21: 4 - 7 NKJV
~Scott~
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