Gifts after death
Jack Benny loved his wife Sayde. Before he died, Jack made provision in his will for a red rose to be sent to his widowed wife every day of the remainder of her life. Every day after his death, a florist delivered one long-stemmed red rose to Sayde. Now that was pretty clever of Jack. And all it took was a bit of forward planning, a few lines in a will and a reliable florist.
Christians are in a similar boat to Sayde, in that we receive gifts from Jesus long after he died. But this is not because Jesus left instructions in a will or found a reliable florist. Jesus is able to give gifts to us and show his love to us because he didn't stay dead. He is alive today.
How is it possible?
Jesus died, taking the penalty we deserved for our rebellion from God. Jesus jumped back to life again, conquering Satan, sin and death. And Jesus reigns today, giving gifts to those who, by faith, are his people.
Your free gifts
So what are these gifts that Jesus gives through his death and resurrection? Let me show you a few in Ephesians 1:3-10:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”
What amazing gifts! All made possible and available to us because Jesus died and rose again to new life.
Jack died and then gave roses. Jesus died, then rose. This is the ultimate sign, and gift of love. Embrace the gifts His death delivers and live a life of praise to God for his glorious gifts of grace.