Death has been Swallowed up in Victory
Death has been Swallowed up in Victory!
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (NIV)
54 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.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are a competitive society. Most Americans learn from a young age to compete in nearly every aspect of our lives. The pursuit of victory is not just an athletic challenge, but includes seeking financial success, finding the best parking spot or being the best mom or dad. In nearly every arena of life we are in competition with others. Sometimes this unspoken competition for everything can cause people to become…stubborn or put more gently, Feisty.
Yesterday when I met with the family, they all agreed that Feisty was a good description of Rene. Not truly competitive, but not backing down from a challenge. Perhaps this feisty nature began as simple sibling rivalry; being one of five, including two sets of twins. This I imagine provided the opportunity for some friendly family competition. Her competitive spirit was evident in her athletic endeavors, especially running cross country. Even the way she ate popcorn is a reflection of her feisty or competitive nature; eating one kernel at a time to prolong going to bed, a habit that continued through adulthood. Rene even found a way to bring her competitive nature into her love for music. She would bet Darrel on the outcomes of the Super bowl and the World Series and the loser would have to listen to a new CD purchased by the winner; in Rene’s case usually something from John Denver or Meatloaf.
Although she had a feisty spirit and competitive streak that was not her entire personality; Rene love the outdoors and camping in the rustic style, she was committed to her favorite hummingbird and her dogs, most recently Buddy, AKA “ask em.” Rene loved being the neighborhood mother, her favorite was of course, Lucas. But the depths of her love was saved for Darrel, Greg and Toni, Tristan and Chloe. Your love for her and her love for you has been the strength that kept you all going these past five years.
Being feisty, or stubborn or just determined not to lose must be a family trait. When the local doctors seemed to give little hope for Rene’s fight with cancer, it was Kris who scoured the internet and found the cancer center, in Zion. She researched it and passed along the information to Rene and Darrel. Kris’s efforts were a reflection of the same fighting spirit, desire to defeat and never give up attitude that Rene had when doing battle with her cancer.
Some might say that the reason we are here is the she lost the fight, however, 1 Corinthians tells a different story.
I. Death is Victory!
A. (read Text from 1 Cor 15:51-57)51Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. This sounds more like a cheerleader at a pep rally
1. The trumpet call
2. In a flash the battle is over
3. The dead will be raised
C. The apostle Paul is taunting death
1. Death is swallowed up
2. Where is your sting?
3. Where is your victory?
D. For the Believer in Christ, Death is our passage to claim Victory
1. This was the passage Rene took Early Tuesday evening; her passage to Victory.
2. Her battle was not with just cancer, the greater struggle was with sin the devil and death and it began at birth
a) She, like all of us, was born a sinner
b) An enemy of God
3. Rene’s first Victory came when she was baptized
4. Her fight continued as she grew in understanding of her faith
5. She claimed another small victory when she was confirmed on March 24, 1994 and continued declaring that victory every time she received the Lord's Supper right up to this past month when one final time she tasted victory in the sacrament.
6. Throughout her entire life she was at war with sin and the devil
a) Claiming many small victories like being able to come to Cloe’s baptism last month
b) Admitting many more defeats
We will never get to perfection this side of the grave.
7. For every defeat she would confess her failure to Christ and He would assure her of victory through the forgiveness of sins he won on the cross
8. Along the road Rene was strengthen By the Word and in the Sacrament of Body and Blood especially these last years when Pastor Illian would visit her at home.
9. Rene received her crown of victory Tuesday night, when Our Lord, welcomed her to eternal life with his open arms.
II. Our Victory was already won on the cross
A. God sent His only son to do battle for us
B. Jesus' death and resurrection was the battle ground in which he defeated death and provided Victory to all who believe in Him.
III. The Victory of Death will change us
A. The dead will be raised imperishable
1. In life we all are affected by the ravages of sin
a) We get grumpy
b) We get old
c) We have pain and suffering, sickness and disease
d) Everyone will, one day or another, face death
2. In death the believer will not decay or get weak or old, but will be clothed with the imperishable
3. The dead in Christ will never have to worry about sin and its consequences again
B. The Mortal will be covered up with immortality
1. We will live forever with the Author and Perfector of our faith
2. We will never feel sorrow or pain or hurt again
C. Death is swallowed up in Victory
Even though we grieve and are filled with sorrow over our loss of a friend and family member, we can truly celebrate the Victory that has been given to Rene in Christ Jesus. She is even now sitting at the great "banquet feast" in heaven with all the saints of old and with those loved ones who preceded her in claiming their victory. And we can claim that same victory as our own by faith in Jesus Christ. Then when we too pass through death to life we will be gathered together at the Victory feast reserved for all those who in Christ Jesus are Victorious. Amen