Lift Your Glad Voices!

There is nothing like death to remind us that this life is fragile and fleeting. Whether it comes with a shock or it comes gradually, it is a deeply painful process.

A few years ago, I memorized I Corinthians 15:55-57–

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage takes on such deeper meaning when death hits a fellow believer for it teaches us that we have victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can this be?

Because when Christ rose from the grave, He rose victorious over death! And so we do not weep as those who have no hope.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (I Thess. 4:13-14).

Over the course of the past year, I have attended what feels like far too many funerals. And I have noticed something: There is a generally striking difference in the funerals of the saved and the unsaved.

It is because when a redeemed child of God says good-bye to this old world, it is not final. For all of us who are redeemed, death is not the final answer. We will see them again in glory, just as the Bible says.

As we approach the morning we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, I have been reminded of all that Christ accomplished on the cross. Christ’s death and resurrection is the most blessed, most important, most loving, and most incredible thing that has ever happened in this world.

Faith in Jesus Christ alone leads to LIFE. It leads to victory over DEATH. So that even when a believer dies, they are not saying a final good-bye but, rather, “see you later”.

From our human, earthly perspective, death does really sting, doesn’t it? It’s painful and full of grief. It’s an event like no other in the lives of those who loved the departed one.

But it is not final if the one we loved is a redeemed child of God. We will see them again. And that sting we feel is only temporary, as we look forward to that day we will meet Jesus face to face and have that glorious reunion with all those who went on to heaven before us!

Death is not final and it’s all because of Jesus. May we lift our glad voices in triumph on high, for Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die!

LIFT YOUR GLAD VOICES

Lift your glad voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die.
Vain were the terrors that gathered around Him,
And short the dominion of death and the grave;
He burst from the fetters of darkness that bound Him,
Resplendent in glory to live and to save!
Loud was the chorus of angels on high,
“The Savior hath risen, and man shall not die.”

Glory to God, in full anthems of joy;
The being He gave us death cannot destroy.
Sad were the life we must part with tomorrow,
If tears were our birthright, and death were our end;
But Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow,
And bade us, immortal, to Heaven ascend.
Lift then your voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die.

(Hymn by Henry Ware, 1817)