Oh Death ─ Oh Grave

Oh Death ─ Oh Grave

Today, we bury my dear Uncle Clyde and sweet Aunt Dottie. It was unimaginable they would move on to their heavenly reward within fourteen hours of one another. (This post was written on the morning of January 17, 2018.)

And it’s good—all good. It’s actually a precious and glorious thing, thanks to Jesus. My cousin, Joseph, their only child, agrees with my inference, for his parents were both abundant in years but deficient in health.  

Some may ask, “Why is it good for someone to die?” Others may inquire, “How can it be a good thing to lose a loved one?”

It’s because death is not the final answer and because my uncle and aunt are not lost. We know where they are. We’re confident their faith was anchored in Jesus who is the Christ—the Son of the living God—Jesus the sinless One, who sacrificed Himself on a cross to take the punishment we deserved for our sins. They are with Jesus, our Savior.

We have confident hope of eternal life—and for good reason. Paul assured Christ followers of victory over death and the grave when he proclaimed:

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immorality.” 

“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Grave, 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 Corinthians 15:50-58). Amen! Thank You, Jesus.

Uncle Clyde & Aunt Dottie - December 2012

Uncle Clyde and Aunt Dottie, we’ll be missing you for a little while but we, who are in Christ, will join you some day when our Lord Christ determines it’s our time to move from mortal to immortality. We have a lot to look forward to together in God’s Eternal Kingdom. 

 

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford