ALL IS WELL
This post is from “The Perfect Savior” published by Our Daily Bread
In March 1912, three members of Robert Scott’s Antarctic expedition sat huddled in an ice hut, awaiting death. On perhaps the final day of his life, Dr. Edward Wilson wrote these words to his wife, “Don’t be unhappy… All is well… We will all meet after death, and death has no terrors… All the things I had hoped to do with you after this Expedition are as nothing now, but there are greater things for us in the world to come… All is well.”
What would cause a man to pen the words, “All is well,” as he froze to death? Edward Wilson clung to an undeniable confidence that death would open the door to an unending new life. In contrast, Bertrand Russell, arguably the leading atheist of the twentieth century, in Free Man’s Worship, wrote that the foundation of life itself is built upon “unyielding despair.”
Paul penned this haunting phrase, “We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” Imagine a life without hope— a life without Jesus. Our greatest hope would be eternal nothingness… grim, unyielding despair. It’s too horrible to imagine.
But Jesus promises life after life to his followers. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul declares, “Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT). Then he adds, “When our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory” (v 54 NLT). In triumph Paul declares, “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v 57 NLT). This is why followers of Jesus can live in unshakeable hope. Through his resurrection, we share in his victory over death.
Quite a contrast with the “unyielding despair” of Bertrand Russell. Instead, like Edward Wilson, we cling to God’s promise, knowing that in death we step into the most amazing life we could ever imagine.
We have the choice to immerse our hearts in hope, rather than caving into despair. Hope in Jesus enables us to rise above our circumstances, as we soar on a higher level and embrace the hope offered through the resurrection. Even in the worst situations life offers, we can say, “All…is…well.”
Principle: Hope in Jesus enables us to say, “All is well.”
Ponder:
What specific aspects of this world pull your attention away from Jesus and the hope he offers?
How can you begin to focus more on this hope today?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.
“Lord Jesus, thank you for the hope you offer even amidst of life’s worst circumstances. I open my heart to you today to receive your gift of life and hope.”
CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PERFECT SAVIOR: