There is a lot of diversity within humanity but one thing which we all have in common is death - whether we like it or not we will all die. But why is this the case? Throughout human history, humans have constantly poured time, money and effort in attempts to lengthen life but it seems that regardless of how much scientific advancement we achieve, we will never avoid death. 

The Bible gives a clear and simple answer as to why we all die. It tells us that sin leads to death - and as humans we have all sinned. 

But doesn’t this seem extreme? Why does the punishment for sin have to be death? 

First we need to remember where our life even comes from. We did not create ourselves, our lives are a gift from God. The Bible tells us that every breath we breathe is given by God whether we recognise it or not. So if God is the source and sustainer of all life, death entered the world when Adam and Eve rejected that source of life. When they disobeyed God, they turned away from the creator of life itself so the natural consequence of this was death. 

This is the tragic history of humanity, but God does not want death to be our final destiny. He didn’t create us just to die but he wants us to live with him forever. That is why he sent his son Jesus to the earth, to take our sins upon himself and die on the cross - he paid the price of death so that we don’t have to. By rising from the grave, he defeated the power of sin and death over our lives. Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.”

I’m Becky Gillespie from Thinking Matters and this has been your Thought for Today. For more reasons to believe visit thinkingmatters.org.nz