Death – It’s power is gone

The Sovereign Lord will destroy death forever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone’s eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The Lord himself has spoken. When it happens, everyone will say, ‘He is our God! We have put our trust in him, and he has rescued us. He is the Lord! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us.’ (verses 8,9)

Read Isaiah 25:6-9

Death has been described in literature in many ways: ‘the grim reaper’, ‘passing on’, ‘the end of the road’. None of them are comforting, for it is only natural for people to fear death, the end of what we know, the unknown.

For those who have lost a loved one there can be no better promise in the Bible than this: ‘The Sovereign Lord will destroy death forever!’ Paul devotes an entire chapter of First Corinthians, not to death, but to resurrection. In his conclusion to chapter 15 he refers to this verse from Isaiah and concludes that ‘Death is destroyed; victory is complete!’ (1 Corinthians 15:54).

As we come nearer to Christmas, our thoughts tend to focus only on the birth of Christ. His birth, though, is only half the story, for it is inextricably linked with his death and resurrection. As you celebrate this Christmas, do so with your thoughts on Jesus, who was born for you and who also lived, died and rose again for you, in order that death may no longer have power over you.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you came to this earth, not only to live for me but also to die and rise again for me. Amen

‘Direction for each day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2006)

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