Spring is a happy season, when the world comes to life again from the cold winter months. Blossoms bud, birds warble, brooks bubble, as warmth and color flows into the cold barren land once again. There is nothing more wonderful and beautiful than life. We can reminisce about happy spring through the winter months, but there is nothing like actually getting there!
I have pictures in my office of my beautiful wife, reminders of her, reminders of memories with her and of days gone by, but there is nothing like having her with me for real. I’m not in love with a picture of her, I’m in love with the real thing! Pictures bring back priceless memories, but they cannot take the place of something like… touch. Real. Life.
I’m amazed at the artistry that can come from the brush of a talented painter. Or a stunning photograph from a high quality camera that has captured a moment of splendid beauty, full of depth and color. But as captivating as those images are, it’s only a shadow of the real thing— it does not take the place of actually being there. To see it, touch it, smell it, breathe it in.
How can you even define life? Think about that for just a minute. One way to help us think about something is to think about its opposite.
What is the opposite of life? Well, I suppose you could say the opposite of life is nothingness. Whatever that is. Where there is no life there is… nothing. If you have not been given the gift of life then, of course, you do not exist. The point here is that life is a gift from the only One Who can “make” it. The Psalmist speaks of God forming his inward parts, and uses the word picture of being knit together in his mother’s womb; of being made in secret, intricately woven. He says:
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:14
You and I would not be in existence if we had not been given the gift of life. And what a good gift it is.
God has given mankind the ability to create, just as He creates. The creative part of us is there as a result of being made “in the image of God.” The creativity within us and the appreciation of beauty is great evidence of our being created by an awesome Creator. Animals don’t create in this way. The animal kingdom is a demonstration of the creativity of God, and this brings Him glory. But mankind was made to make—to create—in order to reflect our Creator. Our creations direct attention and worship and glory toward the great Creator.
But no man or woman can create like God creates. Only God makes real life. And whatever is truly life is truly good. Everything God does is good. Men can make images of real life, but God makes life itself. God’s works are alive, and they are very good (Genesis 1:31). Life is good.
So one way to see the opposite of life, is to think of life never having been given. Now, once the gift of life has been given, there is another opposite. This is probably the word that would come to your mind if I asked you, “What is the opposite of life?” That word of course is death. The opposite of life is the last enemy that will finally be destroyed under the feet of King Jesus—death. (1 Corinthians 15:26)
Death is an enemy. It is the ending and taking away of life that was never intended to end. Death entered into this life-filled world because of man’s sin.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…
Romans 5:12
Sin came in and, as God had warned would happen, death was the end result. Sin has polluted God’s good creation of life. While life is the gift of God, death is the ultimate goal of the enemy who is diametrically opposed to God and the life that flows from the Creator. We see this played out in many ways, but here we are mainly focusing on the most obvious way, physical death. Satan is a killer. He was a murderer from the beginning. He promises life (a lie) but in reality, he is seeking to steal, kill, and destroy. These things are antithetical to life. And this is a good summary of his work every time. God’s works are life, and life is good, every time. The works of Satan and sin are death and destruction. Every time.
God is all light and life and joy and goodness, the opposite of darkness and the works of death. Death, in all of its forms, came as a result of sin. Man made a choice, and the consequence of disobedience was (and is) death. This is really bad news. But, there is the gospel, the really good news. Again, Jesus said,
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
Because of the work of the evil one, and the disobedience of our first parents, though men may be alive physically, they are dead spiritually, dead to God. And to be dead to God is to be in this world without any hope. But Jesus has come. And for those who will believe on Him, He gives abundant life. Warmth and color flows into the cold, barren souls of dead men. A miraculous “new creation” takes place through faith in Christ. Spiritual fruit begins to come forth in this life. Great promises have been given to the children of God, when that last enemy has been finally defeated:
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-16
Physical life will ultimately triumph over death, and all because of the One Who is The Life, Jesus.
While we are in this world, we are to be the body of Christ, spreading the light, taking a stand against darkness and death in all of its ugly forms.
Life is from God. Life is good.
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Steve Hall 
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