Victory over Death

They say that the only 2 sure things in life are death and taxes.

I’ve not met many people who like either.

Death and taxes both feel a little like thieves, taking things and people we feel like should still be ours. That we have a claim over.

I don’t have much advice on taxes. But I have been reading a lot about death. And life. And God.

Because death is heavy and dark and sad. When someone we love dies, we are bereft. A piece of ourselves is missing. A chunk of our heart can no longer quite function properly. Death is hard and grief is hard. Time can heal or at least scab over our hurt, but there seem to be so many things that just rip the scabbing off, leaving the wound open, fresh, and raw.

And so, today, I am sharing some verses that give me hope. Because I can’t (we can’t) stay in that dark place that death leaves us. I think the devil wants to keep us there, in the darkness, in the hopelessness, in the loss.

But we have a better kingdom. A kingdom of light and power, hope and joy. A kingdom with no more tears, no more sorrows. A kingdom where God has victory over death. And I need to remember that, even in the midst of my hardest days, my hardest moments.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live… ~ John 11:25

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~ Revelation 21:4

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:14

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

~ 1 Corinthians 15:54

Death.

Death is swallowed up in victory. This enemy that I have no influence over. That I have no control over. That I cannot choose or dictate – even when it comes to my own life. This thief. This darkness. This thing that we must all face. This thing that I am woefully powerless against.

God has it. He won the victory. And he shares it with me – and you! What a gift – what a blessing – what a life.

The question is: will we choose life or death?