Only Comfort in Life and in Death

Published on March 25, 2010 by Stephen Leung

As I reflect on recent conversations, even rants, with friends, I recognize that in the current climate of challenge, change, and uncertainty, there is a real temptation to actually find our comfort, or lack thereof, in stand-ins for our only God and Savior.  So, perhaps as we come to Holy Week, and consider carefully what it meant for Jesus to stand in our place, let's ask again, what is our only comfort in life and in death.

The answer, along with proof texts, from the (modern language) Heidelberg Catechism is:
That I am not my own,^{[ a ]} but belong - body and soul, in life and in death^{[ b ]} - to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.^{[ c ]} He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,^{[ d ]} and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.^{[ e ]}  He also watches over me in such a way^{[ f ]} that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven;^{[ g ]} in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.^{[ h ]}  Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life^{[ i ]} and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.^{[ j ]}
 
Sometimes I think that I'm "too old" to be going over catechism answers.  But, then I reflect that I don't always remember what these answers are supposed in ingrain in me.  Jesus Christ is supposed to be my only comfort in life and not only death.

[a] 1 Cor 6:19-20
[b] Rom 14:7-9
[c] 1 Cor 3:23; Tit 2:14
[d] 1 Pet 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2
[e] John 8:34-36; Heb 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11
[f] John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thes 3:3; 1 Pet 1:5
[g] Matt 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18
[h] Rom 8:28
[i] Rom 8:15-16; 2 Cor 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph 1:13-14
[j] Rom 8:1-17