Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:9-10 KJV
The Inspiration:
David was also given the opportunity to receive inspiration and revelation about the plan of God for the salvation of mankind. If it were a flash in the plan, with only a few of the prophets speaking about this plan, you may have good reason to doubt, but from Genesis when no prophet yet existed, to Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and then David, to Isaiah and Daniel, among many others, God revealed parts of this great plan to kings, prophets, priests and ordinary men alike. His plan was not for the rich and highly connected alone, but even for the poor and the wretched alike. After all, Jesus didn't die for the rich alone; therefore the blessing and grace of salvation are for everyone who will accept the free gift given. It is a gift I could not afford on my own, but the love of God revealed and released it. From today's verse also, there are some other benefits that accrue to us by virtue of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Contention:
First is the joy that death is not the final stop, but just a step to the final destination. How would I not have joy when I know what I have received from God? I deserved death, which is God's pronouncement as punishment for sin. As a faithful God, He is under obligation to keep His Word. The one who sinned was the one who should die, but if the one who sinned died, justice may have been served, but mercy has not been shown at all. The law will take its regular course, but mercy would not be revealed. The one who knew no sin came and died in the place of the one who sinned, so that the one who sinned may now receive the nature of the one without sin. The One without sin went down to hell and the bible says he took the keys of death and Hell from the devil, signifying victory over all the natural consequence of sin. Sin no longer has power over me, because the One who conquered it lives in me.
The Conclusion:
If Jesus had died and not risen, it would mean that sin had not been fully dealt with in us and it would also mean that death would be the end for all of us. It would mean that death is indeed the most powerful in the world, but thank God that the devil did not get the power to write the final chapter of our lives. We would not be here, celebrating the season of Easter and thanking God for all his wonderful works in our lives. All that God has done shows that He will not abandon us to our own devices, but He will continue to hold us up to the end, until He returns. As I wait, I am filled with joy because I know who I have believed, and I am persuaded, beyond all doubt, that He is able to preserve me to the end. He can keep me away from sin, and preserve me spotless and blameless at His return. The same power that kept Jesus is still in play today, and all I need to do to access it is to believe in Jesus. It is that simple. He waits for you and I? How do you plead? God's time of favour is here.
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