1 Corinthians 15:55-58
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
In the middle of this COVID-19 pandemic, my thoughts seem to wander frequently to funerals. Maybe it’s because two of my best friends are the housemates and caretakers of their mothers who are 88 and 92. Their top prayer requests are for protection from this virus for their mothers. Perhaps these thoughts stem from the fact that one co-worker recently lost his father and another is expecting the decease of hers any day. Maybe these thoughts of funerals are prompted by the news that is ever before us, predicting how many will die and how much more likely we who are 60 and above are likely to do so should we contract this disease.
But all glory be to God, these thoughts are not morbid. I am not pondering as one who has no hope. On the contrary, I have the greatest of all hopes, the hope that is described in Titus 3:4-7 where Paul writes to his brother Titus these encouraging words: “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
That’s why death has no victory and why death has no sting, not even the least bite to it. So in the middle of this pandemic, let’s not despair. Instead, let’s take Paul’s admonition in I Corinthians 15 to stand firm, to not be moved. Let’s just keep on doing the work God has given us to do, living the life with which He has blessed us. It will not be in vain.
Hallelujah, Father! You have given us victory over sin and death through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We celebrate Him today. He is worthy, and He is holy. Our hearts cry out these words to Him in worship as we bow before Him. Thank You for the greatest hope ever and the demonstration of that hope in Jesus’s resurrection from the dead. May we never forget, may we never despair. Our hope is in You, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen!