Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (1 Cor. 15:55)
I WAS DOING SOME MINOR REPAIRS around the house that required using my power drill. After trekking out to the garage to get it, I discovered it was off the charger. It was completely powerless and useless. The right bit was attached and ready for the job, but the drill had no power, and therefore I could not use it for the project at hand.
Paul understood that death carries fear that can torment the soul. However, even though a mystery shrouds the details of death, death is powerless. Our Lord Jesus Christ triumphed over death by rising from the grave. Death is a powerless, defeated enemy.
Yes, death is real, and it affects everyone. But Paul shared the good news that although the sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law, Jesus triumphed over the power of death and removed its sting! While we have to deal with death and its sorrow, we can rejoice because Jesus will deliver those who believe. The psalmist wrote, “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). The pain and suffering of death are temporal. In the scope of eternity, death has been rendered powerless. Give thanks to God in all things, for He gives us victory through Jesus Christ.
Thank Jesus for providing victory over death for you!
Scott Simmons is the author of the youth discipleship series iFollow and was director of youth ministry for the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division of The Wesleyan Church.
