***Saturday, the sports world was shocked at the death of St. Louis
Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile. Darryl was 33. Also on Saturday, long time advice columnist Ann Landers died at the age of 83. The deaths of these two well known people reiterates the reality that one day each of us will die.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL    MONDAY JUNE 24, 2002
(Genesis 2:17, Romans 5:12, Hebrews 9:27)

"But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die, for all sinned.

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment...

SOURCE #1: (Genesis 2:17) The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan 49530
SOURCE #2: (Romans 5:12) The Children's Living Bible, ©1970 Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton Illinois 60187
SOURCE #3: (Hebrews 9:27) The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan 49530

Dealing with the reality of death. Each day here at Liveprayer, we get hundreds of prayer requests from people that are people having a hard time dealing with the death of a loved one or friend. That is natural. Each year during the Christmas seasons, I find myself thinking often of my father who passed away in 1974, and my mother who died the day before Christmas in 1998. I have wonderful memories of the holidays growing up, it was always a special time of year in our home. It is perfectly natural that we think of and miss those who have died that were once part of our lives.

As difficult as it is to lose someone we love and care about, we can never forget that death is part of this journey we are on. The Bible clearly teaches us that tomorrow is promised to nobody. Probably the hardest thing about death apart from its finality, is the burning question... why? Why does a baby, such a precious gift from God get sick and die? Why does a teenager with so much life yet to live have to die? Why does an accident suddenly and without warning take the life of a mother or father? Why does that wonderful grandfather, or loving grandmother have to die? Why does a good person get sick and have to suffer so much before they die? Why do so many innocent people die every day from acts of violence, wars, and natural disasters?

Sadly, there is never a good answer to why? This is why faith in Christ is so important. It is at those times in our life, when there are more questions than answers, that our faith MUST BECOME REAL. It is as those times that we must let our faith become real and trust God. What exactly does that mean? It means knowing that God is in control at all times. Nothing happens in this world apart from God allowing it to happen. God did not create death. Just the opposite. God created man to live forever. It was MAN that chose death when he sinned. Death became a byproduct of man's choice and we all inherit that fact of life.

However, because God loves us so much, while we must accept the consequences of our sin and face death one day, that is merely physical death. By His grace, He has made a way for us to be eternally with Him if we will repent of our sins, and accept by faith His Son Jesus Christ into out hearts. THIS IS HOW WE BECOME VICTORIOUS OVER DEATH! Even though these clay tablets we occupy during this brief journey may be dead, our soul lives on eternally. While sin not only destined our bodies to die, it also separated our eternal soul from God our creator. But God so loved this world, that He sent his only Son to die on a wooden cross to pay for the sins of all mankind. And WHOSOEVER believes in Jesus, will not eternally perish, but have LIFE EVERLASTING!!!

THERE IS VICTORY OVER DEATH THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST! If as you read these words, you do not have the assurance that if you died this very moment you would be eternally with God, than please go to this link, pray for God to open your heart, and take 2 minutes to read over what is written www.liveprayer.com/SPlan.html.

I love you and care about you so much. I know many of you will be missing a loved one or friend today. Know that while we will all one day face death, we live on long after we are gone through the lives of those we were able to touch along our journey. Your loved one, your friend lives on through your life! You will live on through those lives you touch! Death is NOT something we should fear, but an event we should accept. We must also accept that we don't know when, or how it will happen. We never know if there will be a tomorrow. That is why I share so often that NOW is the time. We must not waste the precious time God does give us in this life. We must not take it for granted, but strive daily to serve and glorify God the best we can. After all, that is the purpose of this life.

So as you remember your loved ones, your friends that are no longer with you, never forget that this journey we are on is very short indeed. Even if you are fortunate enough to live into your 80's and 90's, the time goes by very quickly. Can you believe that there is only a little more than 6 months left in 2002? Make the most of each day, treat it as the precious gift from God that it is. Do all that you can each day to share His love and hope with those you encounter. You will be living on through their lives, long after you are gone from this earth and in your eternal home.

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

***I am excited to let you know that the Liveprayer Daily Devotional is now available via audio each day. Simply go to http://www.liveprayer.com/DailyDevotionalAudio.html. Click on "Search by Category", then locate DAILY DEVOTIONAL. I want to thank Ed Morando for making this service available for FREE to Liveprayer.com.

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