84. Passed from Death to Life
John 5:24 He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.
The promise of Eternal Life and No Condemnation is not only future, but eternal life is a present reality; it is life that we have right now, at the moment of faith. We do not wait for eternal life, but we enjoy it and live it during the time we live in the midst of death. It is not life only after death but also life during death.
The statement further explains this present truth: “He that hears…and believes…is passed from death unto life.” It is not “will pass,” but “is passed.” We are born dead because of original sin and we continue to live dead, the walking dead. As long as sin reigns death reigns. We live with the knowledge that we will die; we are mortal. We live with the loss of friends and family who die. We live with the signs of death, including sickness, disease, injury, pain and physical suffering (not to mention emotional suffering). Death is always around us, and in us, since we can almost always point to some kind of pain or loss; very seldom are we in perfect health and full life; nor do we live long without missing a loved one.
We are in death while we live, but the amazing promise that when we believe in Jesus we pass from death into life. Death still exists and it surrounds us, but we ourselves have come out of the grasp and power of death; because of Christ death no long has a hold on us; we are freed from the fear of death. Death will try to frighten us and cause depression and anger, but Death does not have the power to make it stick, if we believe. We can absolutely, for sure, claim that we have been transferred into Life; this is the realm where we really live, where life is real. The grip that Life has upon me is far stronger than the grip that Death claims to have upon me; for it is Truth, Death is Lie. I claim the Life God gives me, not the Death that Sin urges upon me. The Truth: I am passed.