My father-in-law
died today, and he was a Christian, but it is still sad and especially hard for
my wife and her extended family. But those of us who believe can take comfort
in these words,
“50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit
the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For
this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body
must put on immortality. 54 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.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin
is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the
Lord your labor is not in vain.”[i]
The resurrection of Christ secures all of us who believe a sure hope, a sure salvation and the knowledge that we will be those who believe and with our Lord once again. For this reason we can never despair, even if now we are sad at the loss of those we love. One day we shall gain far more than we could ever lose.
[i] 1
Corinthians 15:50-58.
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