"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. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your
sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks
be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians
15:54-57
Occasionally, I have run into a Christian who is afraid of dying. To assist them
I have shared these stories.
Years ago, a young boy was dying, and he also was afraid. To calm his fears, his
mother explained: "Dear, do you remember when you were a little boy how you used
to play so hard that when night came you would fall asleep on the couch, or on
the floor, or on the back seat of the car?"
Yes, he remembered that.
Mother continued, "Those places were not your bed. They were not where you
belonged. In the morning, much to your surprise, you would wake up and find
yourself in your own bed and in your own room. You were there because your
father had come and taken you to where you belonged."
"Honey," mom continued, "death is just like that. We are tired and we fall
asleep in a place that isn't home. Then we wake up and find ourselves in another
place, a place where we belong. That's because Jesus has come, and with hands
that were once pierced by nails, has taken us to our own room."
The boy's shining, trusting face showed he understood, and the fear was gone. He
never questioned again, and several weeks later he fell asleep just as his
mother had said. At that moment Jesus came and took him home where he belonged.
There was no one else who could have done that -- no one else.
That story lets us know that, in Jesus, there is hope: certain hope. We no
longer need to mark the passing of the years with wistful sighs and wishes that
something might happen to delay our dying. That's because something has already
happened to abolish death.
That is why I can tell you that as surely as Christ is risen from the dead, your
loved ones in the Lord will also rise; as will you. The miracle of life has
happened. Recovery has been complete. This is the glory of the resurrection
Gospel that when the earthly outlook is dimmest, heavenly hope is brightest, and
where defeat seems most final, the victory of Christ is most glorious.
All of this means our thinking and our talking can be changed. And if you're
wondering how it's changed, let me tell you about a little girl whose baby
brother had just died. She asked her mother where the baby had gone.
"To be with Jesus," replied the mother. A few days later, talking to a friend,
the mother said, "I am so empty without my lost baby."
The little girl heard and, remembering what her mother had told her, came over
and asked, "Mother, is a thing lost when you know where it is?"
"No, of course not."
"Well, then how can the baby be lost when we know he is with Jesus?"
Her mother never forgot; nor should you. Our loved ones, and someday we,
ourselves, will not be lost. We all will be with Jesus.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, because of Jesus, the sting of death has been removed.
Grant that my fears of death may be eliminated, and I may always enjoy the peace
of mind and heart that comes from believing in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. In
His Name I pray. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.
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