SATURDAY April 3, 2021
Victory Over Death
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
1 Corinthians 15:53-55
What is death swallowed up in? Victory! The Apostle Paul reaffirmed the hope of the Resurrection. Our hope is for our earthly bodies to one day be transformed into immortal, glorious bodies:
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21).
The Old Testament saints understood that they were pilgrims on this earth. They were just passing through:
These [the saints of old] all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13). …they desire a better, that is, country, a heavenly country. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city (Hebrews 11:16).
Abraham knew the promises of God. He looked forward to eternity with God: For he [Abraham] waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). What are you looking forward to during your journey of life? At life’s end, do you have a heavenly hope?
In the truest sense, Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds. We have joy whenever this world reminds us of the next, and we take solace whenever it does not.
~C.S. Lewis~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!