“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 15:55-57
This morning I had a nightmare; that my little girl fell from some long stairs, and died in my arms. I couldn't reach her in time to stop her from falling, it felt so real, but then I opened my eyes turned around, saw my baby, and realized it was all a bad dream. I hugged her close and thanked God for her. Unfortunately death is not isolated to nightmares, but is all too real. Death has been the biggest bully around since the beginning of creation. It has been taking names down and keeping people (6 feet) under.
Sin and death go hand in hand; death is the result of sin. Jesus came down to defeat these bullies, He took on sin at the cross and He kicked death's butt on the grave. Death tried to pin Jesus down but Jesus did an earth rattling, sin shaking, reversal on it and submitted death down (Acts 2:24). And though death is still hanging around on earth it's stinger has been ripped out. For the believer death is not the end of the story but a turning of the page. Death has no lasting effect on those who have trusted in the finished work of Christ at calvary and the grave. Romans 4:25 says that Jesus "was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." Though we die we shall live again! Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He holds the title belt for all eternity. Jesus is our champ. Victory is found in none other but Christ Jesus who has conquered for us.
Every other battle we may face here on earth needs to be faced with the knowledge that we are already more than conquerers in Christ Jesus. The battle has been won. Remember death is defeated and Christ is seated...in victory!
Sin and death go hand in hand; death is the result of sin. Jesus came down to defeat these bullies, He took on sin at the cross and He kicked death's butt on the grave. Death tried to pin Jesus down but Jesus did an earth rattling, sin shaking, reversal on it and submitted death down (Acts 2:24). And though death is still hanging around on earth it's stinger has been ripped out. For the believer death is not the end of the story but a turning of the page. Death has no lasting effect on those who have trusted in the finished work of Christ at calvary and the grave. Romans 4:25 says that Jesus "was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." Though we die we shall live again! Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He holds the title belt for all eternity. Jesus is our champ. Victory is found in none other but Christ Jesus who has conquered for us.
Every other battle we may face here on earth needs to be faced with the knowledge that we are already more than conquerers in Christ Jesus. The battle has been won. Remember death is defeated and Christ is seated...in victory!
- HOW HAS THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST INSPIRED YOU TO LIVE FOR HIM? IF THE SAME POWER THAT ROSE JESUS FROM THE DEATH LIVES WITHIN US, WHAT LIMITATIONS DO WE HAVE WHEN FACING LESSER DIFFICULTIES THAN RAISING BACK TO LIFE?
- "Death is just a change of address but what you believe will determine what neighborhood you end up in." -?