This past week I have had the privilege of being with Bill and Mary Ann Piatt and others at a conference in Mobridge, South Dakota. At that conference, I spoke about serving those who have a medical illness. In those notes, I refer to victory from the illness. My friend, Dr. Bob Smith, initially talked me through this concept. Essentially, there are only two types of victory from illness: either you heal from the illness or you die from the illness. Only two options. But, in both instances, you get victory.
While at the conference, I have also been praying for a friend who was in the hospital in Springfield. Many of his family, friends, and acquaintances have been praying for him to get victory from his illness. The medical doctors performed surgery. Even before the surgery, the doctors explained the risky nature of it and the potential of his not living as a result of it. The surgery itself was a success. However, the surgery did not provide my friend victory from his illness; death did. In the early hours of the morning today, my friend experienced victory from the illness. You might think, “He succumbed to the illness; that is not victory.” But, no friend, not for the Christian. He experienced victory in death.
What about death?
For the person who has placed his or her faith in the forgiveness of sin by God through Jesus Christ, death loses its fear and power. The Apostle Paul writes:
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor 15:55-58)
Jesus defeated death in His resurrection. When a person asks God for forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ and begins to follow Jesus, which we refer to as salvation, that person immediately is associated with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:1-14). As identified with Christ (the Bible calls this ‘in Christ’), all the benefits of Jesus’ experience is provided for you as His follower. Therefore, we identify with Jesus in His death, in His burial, and in His resurrection, which is what baptism by immersion shows.
Jesus defeated death in His resurrection. Because Jesus lives, every person who dies in Jesus lives also. Or, as Paul stated it above: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Yes, incalculable thanks!
So What Does That Make Death for the Saved Person?
Death is 100% not your enemy. There is no fear in death. When you die, you simply pass from this life to the next. As Dr. Bob Smith used to teach:
Death is a Door from here on Earth to God’s presence in Heaven.
A simple door through which we walk from life here to life there. We close our eyes in death here; we open our eyes in life there – in the presence of our dear Savior, Jesus Christ. We experience victory from the illness as we experience life in Jesus.
Death is God’s Transportation System from life on Earth to eternal life in Heaven.
Death is a servant who transfers God’s child to his or her heavenly home which has been prepared by Jesus awaiting in God’s presence.
Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” He continued, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).
We rejoice in this great Bible truth this morning.
Early this morning when Jeff took his last breath on Earth and closed his eyes in death, he simply walked through death’s door. He was transported from here to there. He went from alive on Earth to eternally alive in Heaven. Death, defeated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, did its part to take our friend from here to his heavenly home, prepared by Jesus, in Jesus’ presence, that had been awaiting him.
This morning and always, we do not grieve like those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). There is good news, even in death. Amen.
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