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. – 1 Corinthians 15:56-58
Yesterday, we started talking about the resurrection we will all experience one day. There are several things we need to consider regarding this resurrection. If you missed yesterday’s devotion where we discussed the first, I’d encourage you to go back and read it. But for today, we’re going to look at three more truths we need to consider in regard to the resurrection.
First, let’s consider the practical illustration of the resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul compares a body that is buried to a seed that is planted. If you have ever planted anything, if you have ever lived on a farm, or been on a farm, you totally understand this. When you sow a seed into the earth, that seed, in a sense, dies – it dissolves, it disintegrates. But over a period of time, out of the death of that seed comes a plant; out comes life. The body is like a seed. Like a seed is buried, the body is buried. Like a seed comes back to life, so the body comes back to life. You realize that while you think a body is buried, in God’s eyes, it is sown.
Next, let’s consider the powerful transformation of the resurrection. Right now, on this earth, I am living in a body that is perishable. It is just like milk left outside of a refrigerator. It is perishable. It is going to spoil and die. I’m just a dying body and a dying person preaching to a dying people. My body has a terminal disease and an expiration date called “death.” And at that point, it will no longer be a dying body; it will then be a decayed body. The truth is we begin to die the moment we are born. No matter how strong, how muscular, or how fit your body may be now, it is perishable.
But as believers, when we are resurrected, we will be raised imperishable. Our future bodies will be indestructible. There will be no birthdays in heaven. You will look as young a hundred million years from now as you did when you first got started. There will be no need for plastic surgery. You won’t need to take vitamins, medicines, diet, or even have to watch what you eat. We will have undergone a powerful transformation that will never deteriorate, decay, or die for all of eternity.
Finally, let’s consider the positive affirmation of the resurrection. There will be two types of people that will be present when the resurrection occurs. There are going to be those who are alive, and they will be raptured to Jesus, and there will be those who already died, and they will be returning with Jesus. The raptured believers are going to be able to say, “Oh death where is your victory?” The returning believers will be able to say, “Oh, death where is your sting?” Because of the resurrection, we don’t have to fear death and we don’t have to continuously grieve over a grave. Jesus has taken the doom out of death and the gloom out of the grave. What is in the ground is not a dead body; it is a seed that has been planted that one day will be harvested in a resurrection.
Dear Lord, thank you that I don’t have to fear death. I can accept its reality with peace and comfort knowing that death is just a doorway to spending eternity with you. Help me to share that peace and comfort with others so that they might come to know you as well. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Death
