Friday Thought -- August 17, 2012

Good Morning Friends,

“Listen, I tell you a mystery:  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:  ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’  ‘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, 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 15:51-58)

The last enemy is going to be defeated and it could be just around the corner.  Death brings great fear and uncertainty to most of us.  It is the separation that is so agonizing.  To lose a parent, a spouse, a child, or a friend to death brings great grief.  But it will not always be so!  Death is about to be defeated.  Its doom is already sealed.

When the trumpet sounds it will not make any difference whether you are dead or alive.  The dead will be raised, the living will be changed, and eternity will be ushered in.  Those who are still alive will be reunited with those who have already died.  The critical factor will not be life or death.  The critical factor will be your relationship with the Lord.  In Him, death’s sting is gone and its power erased.

The prospect of death’s defeat should be a great motivator.  Stand firm, hold on, work hard for Jesus.  In the end, that’s all that will matter.  Keep your own faith solid and secure, and seek to encourage others to embrace faith in Christ, too.  There are times when our faith seems futile and witnessing to others does too.  Despite our best efforts the world seems to continue to spiral downward.  But when the trumpet sounds it will be clear that it has been worth it.  Just wait and see!

His, by Grace,

Steve