O. Henry, the famous short story writer, was dying. The nurse thought the end had come and began lowering the shades of the windows. Opening his eyes and seeming to understand what was happening, he said, “Let up the shades! I don’t want to go home in the dark!”
Since Jesus came, nobody needs to go home in the dark. The Scriptures declare that Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light (2 Timothy 1:9-10).
Look at the marvelous work of Jesus for a moment:
1. Jesus has abolished death. This means that he has rendered death ineffective in our lives. We can’t escape death, but we can now prepare for it, and we do not need to be terrorized by it. It no longer holds power over God’s people.
2. Jesus has brought us life. A lady said to me once, “Preacher, I’m not living. I’m just existing.” There are many people like her. Life is more than just existence. It is existence with purpose, meaning, joy, and real happiness. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
3. Jesus brought immortality into light. The word immortal means “the imperishable life.” Jesus came not only to give us the abundant life now but to give us eternal life when we die.
What all of this means is that we can now live until we die and then we can live forever.
Christian writer David Redding said that death did "something terrible" to Christ...but not everyone knows that he did "something wonderful" to death. He didn’t just simply endure death, he conquered it.
The punchline of the New Testament is not a tragic cry for “Help!” but a triumphant shout, “Hallelujah.” Now nobody has to go home in the dark.