7-day plan: Death and Eternal Life
The Bible speaks of death honestly and announces that Jesus overcame it.
One passage a day, with a question to think it over. Your progress stays on this device, no account needed.
Day 1 · Life is short
The psalmist asks God to teach us to number our days
The days of our years —in them seventy years, and if by strength eighty years; and their pride is suffering and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away. Who knows the strength of your anger, and, according to the fear of you, your wrath? To number our days, so teach us, and we will bring a heart of wisdom.
Psalms 90:10–12 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What does this passage say about what God is like?
Day 2 · Death entered the world
God warns the man not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or he will die
And YHWH Elohim commanded the man, saying, “From every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat from it, for in the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Genesis 2:16–17 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What friendship or relationship can you care for this week so you do not walk alone?
Day 3 · Jesus overcomes death
Jesus tells Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life”
Jesus says to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha says to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die, ever. Do you believe this?”
John 11:23–26 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Jesus wept with those who wept (v. 35). How can you accompany someone who is grieving today?
Day 4 · Eternal life
God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life
For God loved the world in this way: that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Jesus speaks of those who come to the light and those who prefer darkness (vv. 19-21). What helps you live with more clarity and truth?
Day 5 · Dying with hope
Paul says that for him to live is the Messiah and to die is gain
For to me to live is the Messiah, and to die is gain. But if I am to live in the flesh, this is fruit of work for me; and what I will choose I do not know. I am hard pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and to be with the Messiah, for that is far, far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
Philippians 1:21–24 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Paul rejoices even in hardship (v. 18). What difficult situation today could you look at from another angle?
Day 6 · Life is short
David admits his life is as nothing before God: every human being is only a vapor
“Make me know, YHWH, my end and the measure of my days, what it is; let me know how fleeting I am. Look, as handbreadths you have made my days, and my lifetime is as nothing before you; only a vapor is every human being standing firm. Selah. Only as an image does a man walk about; only for vapor are they agitated; he heaps up and does not know who will gather it.
Psalms 39:4–6 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What would you like to say to God after reading it?
Day 7 · Death entered the world
God tells the man: “dust you are, and to dust you will return”
By the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for from it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you will return.”
Genesis 3:19 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
When you fail, how can you come near to Elohim instead of hiding, as the man did (v. 8)?