Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now 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! Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15: 50-58
My words…
Praise
I spend a lot of energy battling corruptibility. Each trip to the grocery sets off a race: Can we eat the berries before they grow mold sweaters? Can we drink the carton of milk before it curdles? Or better yet: Is there really an anti-aging anything? It’s a race against decay because everything on earth is destined to die, decompose, and wear out. Our sun has about 5 billion more years to burn (You know the exact number!) But burn out, it will. My skin is drying out, my eyes are losing sight, and I can never remember where I parked my car as I exit a building. I am part of Your creation, designed to die. Unlike the sun, I will burn out much sooner, and honestly, it scares me at times. But because of Your definitive victory over death, I won’t be battling corruptibility when I am raised to meet You. Paul tells me I will be wearing incorruptibility and immortality. Even though I cannot imagine that, it makes me smile! There is a part of me clutching my earthly ties, what is familiar, what is comfortable. But there is also a part of me that can’t wait to hear the trumpet and – in a flash – stand victorious over death, wearing my new clothes.
Prayer for me
Paul writes these words to kindle my spirit, urging me to remain steadfast and immovable in my adoration and dedication to You. Sharpen my focus on things above so I may loosen my grasp on what is corruptible.
Forgive me
Forgive me for giving into the temptation of believing that life immortal may not be that glorious after all. I allow my finite, narrow mind to control my expectations of what You have in store for me. My life on earth has been a blessing from You. I have seen such beauty in nature and experienced such love from family. But the purest joy I have experienced on earth during my entire life will not compare to what I will know when the mystery is revealed. Forgive me for comparing what is corruptible with what is incorruptible.
Prayer for others
Years ago, I asked a family member, “What do you think will happen after you die?” “Absolutely nothing,” he replied. His response made me sad. Sad for him. I pray for him today, Father, and others with the same mindset: what they see is what they get. Their spiritual eyes are clamped shut, unwilling to gaze upon what could be. Open their eyes, Lord, to see the truth and live for something other than what is here and now. Give them a glimpse of what is eternal.
Thank you
Because You conquered death, Jesus, so too may I live immortal, victorious, and incorruptible. Maybe then, I will know how to thank You in a way worthy of Your sacrifice. Until then, accept my deepest gratitude. I offer it from the very center of my heart.
More praise
Lord, You are the balm that alleviates the sting of death. You offer that balm so we, the heirs of Your kingdom, will realize inexhaustible joy when we are raised incorruptible. The mystery of life immortal will be revealed, and I await the day when I can rejoice in harmony with the trumpets.
