Celebrating Victory over Death
He is risen! He is risen indeed! With these words we celebrate Easter, the highest spiritual celebration in the Christian Church. We celebrate the good news that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, and with this historical fact we receive God’s assurance that we also will rise from the dead to live with him forever.
Jesus Christ rose from the dead, gaining the victory over death. He died to pay the penalty for sin, not for his sins since he was sinless, but for the sins you and I have committed, as Holy Scriptures states, “the wages of sin is death”. (Romans 6:23). He died as our substitute that we might be forgiven of our sins. And his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday was God’s statement proving that sin has been conquered and all who trust in him will likewise rise from the dead to live with him forever.
This victory over death is not just a “pie in the sky by and by”. It means victory for all believers here and now. Knowing that death has been defeated means we can live with joy and comfort in our present situations, with the certainty that the evil conditions of this present world will not last forever.
While I was in the hospital suffering from a serious case of pneumonia, I had comfort knowing the care and medications I was receiving would eventually return me to health. Not immediately, but soon. In the same way, while we are suffering from numerous conditions causing us much pain and anxiety right now, we have the comfort knowing it will not last forever, the day will come when it will all end and we will receive eternal comfort and joy. Saint Peter gives us instructions as to how we are to live during the short time we have in this sinful world. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the kings, as the supreme authority, to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right”. (1 Peter 2:13- 14). (Regardless whether they may be Republicans or Democrats). “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9).
And Saint Peter is still speaking to us today. This is not a perfect world. Sin abounds and we will be affected by it in numerous ways. Yet we are to live in peace with the world, accepting whatever comes our way, whether good or bad, knowing that victory is ours, not yet to be seen, but soon.
Jesus is risen from the dead; victory over death is complete; and soon we also will enjoy this victory that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ. In the meantime we live lives acceptable to God enduring with patience whatever this sinful world throws at us. He is risen! He is risen indeed!