Where is Thy Sting?

I declare to you brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery; We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

                                    “Where, O death, is your victory?

                                    Where, O death, is your sting?”

                                                                                                I Corinthians 15:50-55

We live in a world ruled by fear,

it dominates our thoughts,

it determines our decisions,

it decides how we live our lives;

fear of illness and disease,

fear of starvation and death,

fear of destruction and chaos,

fear of losing loved ones,

fear of losing money or possessions,

fear of being different,

fear of growing old,

fear of not being attractive,

fear of being sad and alone,

fear of not being loved,

fear of rejection,

fear of suffering and pain,

fear of the unknown,

fear of living life,

spiritual fears so dark and deep

we don’t even like to admit they exist;

fear of the truth.

We live in a world

which thrives on fear,

where many prey

on the fears of others,

commercializing their existence,

capitalizing on their opportunities,

exploiting their weakness,

surviving on their reactions.

There is One who has

conquered death,

there is One who has

overcome fear,

through Him we are free

to live again,

through Him we are free

to ask:

O death, where is thy sting?

O grave where is thy victory?

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