The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:26

Death. We’ve heard that word more in 2020 than most of us have heard it in our entire lives. Each newscast tells us how many thousands of deaths there have been in the last day or week due to the coronavirus. Each death represents someone’s husband or wife, parent or child. The ripple effect is incalculable.

Death is so disruptive. Life does NOT go on as usual. A person who loses someone they love may feel an emptiness for a long time, depending on how well they knew the person and what kind of relationship they had with them.

If there were no death, we could always have the person we loved without dreading their being taken from us suddenly and unexpectedly – or slowly fading away through dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.

A friend who loves the Lord is in the final stages of cancer. She calls it a “win-win” situation. If she lives, she gets to spend more time with those she loves. If she dies, she gets to go home to be with Jesus, whom she loves even more.

Jesus conquered death, the last enemy of our souls, when he died on the cross and rose victorious from the grave. Now He reigns with authority at the right hand of the Father in heaven for all eternity. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Prayer: Dear Lord of all mercy, sin brought death and sorrow, but through the victorious death and resurrection of your Son, you have all authority to take our souls to heaven to live with you forever. It’s a win-win situation. We can never thank you enough. In the name of Jesus, our victorious resurrected and reigning Lord. Amen.

Contributed by Karen Seutter