And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.
I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” (John 8:50-51)

Read: Isaiah 1:21 – 5:30

Relate: Death is a choice. I know, I know, that old adage says that the only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes. That saying goes back centuries. You know who first wrote it? Daniel Defoe. You know where it is found? In his book, The History of the Devil. I kid you not. Guess what. The Devil is a liar, and so was Daniel Defoe when he wrote that often repeated line, “Things as certain as Death and Taxes, can be more firmly believ’d.” So was Benjamin Franklin when he reworded it, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” So is everybody else who has repeated some variation of this quote throughout time. Yes, taxes might be certain but death is not. It is optional. It is a choice and I am opting out.

React: So how can it be stopped? Sooner or later won’t my heart give out, or cancer take over one organ after another? How can I avoid some random accident or act of malicious violence? I’m not Superman… bullets will surely stop me. How can I avoid the decay and ultimate failure of this fragile body? Simple. Follow Jesus. The fact is, as long as I chose to follow Him I will live. Even death is no bar to His call. Death can hunt me down all it likes. The only way it can catch me is if I chose to turn away from God. It is my choice, and that isn’t one I plan on making. No, I am walking with Him all the way. The only thing I plan on seeing die is death itself.

Respond: 

God, I chose life. I chose You. I will follow You anywhere. Help me to faithfully continue to follow even when death is staring me in the face. You are life. I long to be found only in You.