I Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
I Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
Lately, I have been thinking about the phrase – the sting of death.
Every one of us who has experienced loss knows the pain and sorrow that death brings. It hurts – well, to be honest………..it more than hurts…….it’s a pain so deep & awful that it defies words.
But I keep coming back to the phrase – the sting of death. It’s sticking with me. It’s important and I need to know why the sting is gone.
It comes from the scripture noted above. It is part of chapter 15 which outlines and explains that Christ died for our sins, and by dying once for all, abolished death. Verse 54 says – death is swallowed up in victory. Death is crushed.
Christ conquered sin & death on the cross. So for Christians, death isn’t final or ultimate. Yes – they are gone. . .my husband is gone. . . from this physical world. But our parting is temporary. I will see him again. He is still very much alive – – just not here.
And so even though death is still a part of us living here on planet earth, the sting is gone for us who are believers.
Please understand – – we are definitely hurting! The sting is gone, but death hurts!
However – – – – – I do not grieve as one who does not have hope.
Hope – oh yes – Hope.
Hope in Jesus. Hope in the Lord, my rock (Psalm 18:2). Hope because we will all be reunited (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
This is why I’m writing this for you. Hope. The sting is gone.
We still sorrow…………we still cry………..we still mourn………but we know it’s not the end. It’s temporary for those of us who have accepted Christ as Savior.
I can hear some of you question – you’re not sure your loved ones accepted Christ before death. But we don’t know for certain that they didn’t. Only God knows the hearts of men/women. “for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
The sting……………gone. We grieve…………….with hope.
My heart is heavy but I sing hallelujah. God gets the final word – not death.
I hope this encourages you as you walk your grief journey. You are not alone. God walks it with you. I’m walking it too.
Peace & Blessings. . . . .