Regardless of what Simon and Garfunkel sang, I am NOT a rock, and I am NOT an island, nor is anyone else in this world. The only thing that’s truth in those lyrics is “A rock feels no pain; and an island never cries.” But praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus, we are created with feelings and emotions that reflect what is important in our lives – love, joy, happiness, disappointment, fear, need – even sorrow, because that’s part of what makes us human.
All of these things – and more – Christ experienced so that HE can show us how to live, and HE can give us the strength, power, and courage to live life.
Paul told the Roman church “7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.“
Paul had already reminded them that …God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (5:8)
The statistics are in: The death ratio is one to one. The Bible says it is appointed to all men once to die a physical death. Sooner or later it’s going to happen.
We all need to realize the truth that “…whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Paul was speaking to believers, but that still holds true for non-believers: You still ‘belong’ to the Creator when you die, and if you have not believed on Him He will pass judgment on all who have rejected Him.
Most people recognize John 3:16; but v. 18 says “18 Whoever believes in him [that is, Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
There was a time when I thought I was my own man. I had everything figured out. Boy, was I wrong!! I was astray, moving away from God and my family, and blind to my own sin and arrogance.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. –Ephesians 2
Draw near to Jesus, and He will draw near to you.
THE RIGHT RENDITION 