I was reading today where Jesus sent out His eleven disciples (twelve actually, but one was demon-influenced) to declare and demonstrate God’s love and God’s ability to fix broken lives.
As He instructed them, he predicted that they would get a mixed reception. Some would welcome them, but most would reject them: “Everyone will hate you because of me.” (Matthew 10:22) I’ve never seen a plaster plaque in a Christian book store with that sentence on it!
According to Jesus, some of them would be murdered because of their message. “Don’t worry about physical death,” He said, “just worry about anything or anyone that can kill your spirit and soul.” (Matthew 10:28) Why? Because dying physically is temporary but dying spiritually is, without supernatural intervention, eternally terminal.
It’s natural to want to continue to live physically, to function biologically. God put that desire to survive and thrive in all of us. But Jesus, who exists eternally, told His followers, “Focus more on your spiritual safety than your physical safety. Being spiritually alive lasts forever!”