Solving Death

Sunday - January 30th

Scripture to Read Today: Ephesians 1:15-23

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I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead.

Ephesians 1:18-20

"Can Google Solve Death?"

Those words splashed across the cover of Time Magazine's September 30, 2013, issue highlight Google's aggressive approach to its mission. The company, best known for its search engine, launched a daughter company to tackle the issue of aging and death. "Calico" continues to fulfill the purpose for which Google created it. Calico partners with various medical and pharmaceutical research initiatives tackling aging issues like dementia and Alzheimer's.

Calico wants to improve the human life span significantly. In doing so, it hopes to help people worldwide cheat death (in at least a small way). "Curing death" seems a bit out of reach but expanding the average human lifespan seems doable. Death is the ultimate equalizer. The great suffering character of the Old Testament, Job, said what is true of all of us. "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart" (Job 1:21).

God initiated both physical death and spiritual death as part of the penalty and curse resulting from the sin of Adam and Eve. Yet, with all its wealth, influence, creativity, and determination, not even Google can end the curse of death. Thankfully, the company doesn't have to end death. Jesus already did!

While a company with economic power, significant wealth, influence, and practical authority in our world may tackle end-of-life ailments to extend life, only God can solve our death problem. He did just that when He sent Jesus to live a sinless life among us, go to the cross to be our substitutionary sacrifice, and then conquer the grave for us.

The Apostle Paul prayed fervently for the believers at Ephesus. He told them he prayed they would know God's power in their lives. He then used four central words in the New Testament Greek for power, strength, and authority in Ephesians 1:19-23. This passage describing the Apostle's prayer for other Christians contains the most concentrated use of the Greek words for "power" in the New Testament.

How big a deal is the power about which Paul prays in Ephesians chapter one? Really big! Paul says God offers us the same power that He used to cure death. "That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead" (Ephesians 1:19-20).

While Google's Calico initiative may improve our quality of life and length of life as we age, it will never solve death. But the good news is it doesn't have to!

Death is the ultimate obstacle for us as humans. With death conquered by the power of God raising Jesus from the dead, nothing we face can stand against God's power. As you go through your day today, nothing you face is beyond God's strength, power, and authority.

Ask God to help you and your fellow Christians know the power God offers us for life's challenges.