A Glorious Day

“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 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 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.” (I Corinthians 15:50-58 NIV)

During the worship service yesterday, we were singing the song, “Glorious Day,” and my voice cracked when we got to the last verse, “One day the trumpet will sound for His coming, 
One day the skies with His glories will shine.”   For some reason, an image of my mom came to mind and my eyes welled with tears.  One day, when that trumpet sounds, I will be reunited with her.


Death is an unwelcome intruder.  It intruded on my life when I was in college and again in grad school, taking both my father and mother.   It intruded on the family of a beloved elder in our church last week.  It intrudes daily on an average of over 150,000 families in the world.  If it has yet to intrude on yours, it will, sooner or later.


For many, the Christmas season is a melancholy time, with memories of departed loved ones dampening the holiday cheer.   For some, the paralyzing grip of grief never is released.  This is, I think, what makes death such a threat to us.  The loss seems too great to bear.  We fear the grief and the emotional pain that accompanies it.  


Paul knew about death, as did every believer in the 1st Century.  They were constantly under threat by the Roman government and by the Jewish leaders.  During Paul’s ministry, many died at their hands.  And, of course, life was hard in those days and life expectancy averaged 40-50 years and infant mortality was very high.  So death intruded in their lives on a regular basis.   This is what makes Paul’s words so powerful and meaningful.  


He writes to a church with full knowledge and experience with death and tells them to remain defiant when facing it.  “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  The resurrection of Jesus brings with it the promise that death is not the end.  Therefore, that hope is what can keep us going and remaining fearless when death brings its unwelcome knock to our door.  


Today, know the power of the resurrection.  In the face of death, do not fear or be depressed.  Death has only temporary power to inflict pain upon us.  One day, everything will be put right.  And for those in Christ Jesus, that will truly be a glorious day!  


© Jim Musser 2011