“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

— 1 Corinthians 15:55, kjv

Someone once asked: “Who has not at some time in his or her life trembled at the thought of death? Who has been able to resist it?” All our human might and wisdom have no power against its invincible might.

But as Christians, we needn’t fear. The great specter of death that has always clouded the horizon does not reign supreme. Against this heartless monster, God commissioned His Son, Jesus, who sat at His right hand. Jesus declared, “Lo, I have come to do Thy will,” and He took upon Himself the task of confronting and overcoming death. He laid down His life for us, passing through that greatest of all ordeals so we wouldn’t have to. He allowed Himself bound in the grave that He might forever “break the bands of death.” Jesus Christ, sinless human and almighty God, undermined the power of the grave and rose triumphant over it.

What a glorious truth. We who trust in the Prince of Life need no longer fear death. It holds no power over us now. In that Celestial City of Heaven, the shadow of death shall never fall upon the threshold. No longer will that bony finger beckon through the door to come and follow him. Instead, we will live in Christ’s light for eternity. Paul wrote, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Death has been swallowed up in victory—all thanks to Jesus Christ.

“When the stars have burnt out, we who trust
in Christ will have just begun to live.”