"For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
'Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?'
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:53-57 ESV)
Do you ever sit the guilt of your own sin wondering if you are really saved at all? Does the fear of death and guilt of your sin weigh you down like 100 pounds of bricks on your back because you know that you will never measure up to God's standards? I've been there. It's a depressing, scary place to be. Death is a scary reality. Death is a result of the sin of Adam and all the generations after him have inherited it. The statistics don't lie: 10 out of 10 people die. It's just a matter of time before death comes knocking at your door. When death knocks, you better have ready for God the payment for your sin, and that payment is righteousness, perfection, perfect obedience to God's Law. The only problem is our righteousness, our goodness, is worth nothing to God because everything we do is tainted with sin. Isaiah 64:4 says all of our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. If your good deeds aren't good enough to cancel out your sin, death will come to sweep you away into hell where you will endure the eternal consequences for you sin. Many will say "That's not fair! I did my best!" Well, God is not subject to fallen notions of fairness. Death has power to take you to hell because you have committed treason against God with your sin. God gives this power to death through the Law. Everyone who has ever lied, stolen, looked with lust, hated, committed sexual immorality, murdered, coveted, or put God in a lower position than where He ought to be has committed treason against God. After God, death is your worst enemy. When you die you will be declared guilty and be cast forever into hell where you will never stop paying for your sin. Sin is infinite treason that deserves infinite payment because it offends the infinite God. There is no escape that we can provide for ourselves. In ourselves we are doomed to the fate of our filthy, disgusting, putrid unrighteousness.
But the story doesn't end here...
There is a way of escape from this pitiful end. God knew from eternity past that man would fall, and He has always had a plan to pay for the sins of men. God became flesh in the person of Jesus who lived a perfect life. He had no sin and was therefore not under the power of death. He willingly laid His life down as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. He died to take the wrath of God in our place. Three days later, when there was no possible way to say that He was only unconscious or sleeping, Jesus rose from the dead proving He has power over death. On that day death was swallowed up in victory by God Himself. Anyone who places their hope and trust in Christ alone for His righteousness alone apart from any good deed of their own will have their sin pardoned and its record destroyed.
Do you understand what this means if you put your hope and trust in Christ to pay for your sin? There is no more sin record against you! Death no longer has power over you! Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe! Christian, wake up and believe this glorious truth! God no longer holds your sin against you. He will never hold it against you anymore! No matter how hard Satan presses you about how bad you are, you can eternally say "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impure sin! I am blessed!"
So when death comes knocking on your door, greet him with a smile and great joy for you are not subject to him anymore. Your sin has been forgiven. Your debt is paid. Christ now dwells in you and He is the hope of glory. Live on this truth!
O death, where is your sting?
O death, where is your victory?
If this does not stir up joy and praise in your heart desiring to worship God, I don't know what will. Praise Him with me today as we rejoice in this glorious truth that God delivered us from the power of death into the eternal hope of His glory.
Blessings,
Nick
Here is a 24 minute video of Victor Watters' conversation with death which was read at his funeral. Victor was a brave you Christian man who just recently died of cancer.
