Jump Start # 825

1 Corinthians 15:56-57 “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.”

This weekend is the time of the year that the world pauses and tips it’s hat to the resurrection of Jesus. For too many, the resurrection of Jesus is a once a year pause in the rapid pace of life. Followers of the Bible see the resurrection differently. The early Christians remembered it weekly and lived according to it daily. The resurrection of Jesus is THE event of the Bible. Without the resurrection, Jesus is just another religious leader who died.

As a hymn we sing, “Up from the grave He arose,” and so He did. The resurrection of Jesus became God’s explanation point. It was the crushing blow to the serpent’s head. It defeated what all of us lived in fear of, death. Because of Jesus, death is not the end of the story. Because of Jesus, death is just a doorway to a wonderful world where the righteous want to be. Death is not feared any longer because of Jesus. Death becomes an inconvenience, and nothing more. Our attitude about death changes because of Jesus. Instead of being fixated upon death, we see the what awaits beyond death. There is an old story of a mother who passed away. At her visitation, her daughter placed a fork in mom’s hand. That was odd. Some one asked, “Why is there a fork in your mom’s hand?” The daughter commented that mom loved to cook and she always said, “Save your folk, the best is yet to come!” How true that is for those who walk with God. The best is yet to come!

In our passage today, Paul speaks of a victory as if it has already occurred. And, in many ways it had. Jesus was victorious Himself. The grave could not hold Him. He was the first resurrected to never die again. There would be others. Death is Satan’s greatest tool. Jesus destroyed it. There is nothing else Satan can do. He is dead in the water!

Victory is sweet. Victory in war, means the soldiers will soon be coming home and the threat and rebellion has been overcome. Victory in sports means you are the champion! I live in Indiana. Watching the number # 1 Hoosiers lose last night was hard. They didn’t look like # 1 after the game. (They didn’t play like # 1 during the game). The winning team jumps up and down. Their fans shout and high five each other. They are excited. They are the champions. Victory over cancer is a huge statement that patients long to hear from their doctor. Victory.

Victory belongs to those who walk with the Lord. Our personal struggle continues. We have daily battles, but the outcome of the war is known. God wins. That is the simple theme of Revelation. Opposition can not destroy God’s cause. He will not allow it.

Imagine that day, when all of this is over. Imagine that time when all those who have walked by faith are in Heaven! What a joyous time that will be. It won’t be a weekend get-a-way. It won’t be for a short time and then we have to hurry on to some other place. There is no other place to go. We won’t want to be any other place. Imagine seeing angels. Imagine seeing the righteous ones who left our presence long ago. Imagine seeing the heroes of the Bible. Imagine seeing Jesus. Revelation 22:4 states, “We shall see His face…” Imagine!

The resurrection makes all of this possible. As you take the Lord’s Supper this Sunday, think about this wonderful victory that God has made possible for you. On our own, we are losers. Without Jesus, even the best among us, are sunk. But with Jesus and because of Jesus, there is a wonderful victory. Doesn’t that just make you want to kick Satan to the curb and toss out all his idiotic trinklets that he dangles before our eyes. Satan is a loser.

Thanks, Paul said. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Did you catch a word in that last statement from our verse? The victory is through Jesus. Certainly. But, it’s through OUR Lord Jesus Christ. Not HIS Lord Jesus Christ, but OUR Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus came for us. Jesus died and rose for us. We belong to Him and He is ours.

Honor His name and His ways. Defend His cause. Respect His wishes. Obey His commands. Share His story. And look forward to that sweet, sweet Victory.

Roger