It Changes Everything

This week at a beloved family member’s funeral, I was again blessed with the beauty of knowing Christ as my Savior. The title on the service bulletin in my hand contained the word Resurrection. Resurrection – the act of rising from the dead. This descriptive word that makes Christianity different from all other beliefs is the reason for the hope and joy that accompanies our grief and sorrow at the loss of a loved one. It is a bitter-sweet miracle that changes everything.

Our next verse of thanks is in a chapter where Paul is teaching the Corinthian people about the essential truth and reality of Christ’s resurrection. He goes over the certainty of Resurrection, considers certain objections, and appeals that because of this truth (of Christ’s Resurrection), they should stand firm and work hard for the Lord because no effort for Christ will be wasted.

“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.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 (incl. vs. 54-58 to complete the thought)

In “The Reason for God,” Timothy Keller makes a point about the reality of the Resurrection:

““If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.” That is how the first hearers felt who heard reports of the resurrection. They knew that if it was true it meant we can’t live our lives any way we want. It also meant we don’t have to be afraid of anything, not Roman swords, not cancer, nothing. If Jesus rose from the dead, it changes everything.”

Our resounding thanks goes up to God because at the cross He turned Satan’s apparent victory into defeat with Jesus’ Resurrection. Death is not to dread or fear. Christ overcame it, and one day we, as Christ followers/Christians, will also. Death was defeated and we have hope beyond the grave! Praise be to God!

Matt Maher sings about this victory in his song “Christ Is Risen”: https://youtu.be/-mXeA0G_xKc

Oh death! Where is your sting?

Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, he's alive! he's alive!

Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling over death by death

Come awake, come awake!

Come and rise up from the grave

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b