MASTER OVER DEATH
Richard Harris
Today’s Scripture: “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 25:8, ESV
Theme: God is Master over death and the Giver of life.
THE LORD HAS SPOKEN
Isaiah’s words, “for the Lord has spoken,” signify absoluteness, finality and truth. With these words, he made it clear that there is no need for a response. We can lay our foundation on this promise. It leaves no doubt that God is so powerful He can swallow up death. He is Adonai, the Most High and Lord; Master.
When that death-elimination moment comes, there will be a new Heaven and Earth. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. Our domain’s sole ruler will be our Savior – Jesus Christ. We will never be separated again from our loved ones. Death will no longer have the final say… God will swallow up all death, as the faithful become renewed in faith. There will be a great feast, as death ends.
DESTROYING DEATH
Many years ago, I attended a funeral at an old church in Friendsville, Maryland. The tombstones surrounding that church went right up to the building itself. Later, at the old homestead, my wife’s grandmother and I carried a water bucket to a flowing spring. I asked her about the graveyard encircling the church. In short, she told me that during the Rapture, God will swallow up death and bring those souls back to life. “Why not have the church right there to receive the dead who will be raised in glory?” She pointed to the small stream of water outside her house, cascading down some rocks, and talked about the River of Life from Revelations. “Like that falling water that has been ever-present, since at least when my grandmother was a girl”, she said, “so is God’s ability; swallowing up all in its path to continue life. Water, a gift from God, has the power to sustain all the living things we see. God, Himself, has that power with us.” With the water bucket filled, we walked back to the house. Forty-six years later, her words still resonate with me.
Make it Personal: I am pretty sure that we all have all grieved. As Christians, we know that without love, there can be no grief. While in our quiet times, let us think of today’s Scripture and theme as it gives us hope in the midst of that grief. Restoration is coming... Hallelujah! We understand that, through the Great Sacrifice, we shall never be separated again. There will be a new creation with the marriage of Heaven and Earth. Let us all look forward to the glorious day where God will guide us through that valley of death.
Pray: Lord, through Your loving gift, death has no power over us. As we stand firm in our faith, we thank You, Father, for the ultimate promise of victory over death. We thank You, Lord, for wiping away all our tears, as we are reassured of spending our eternal life in Your new Kingdom with Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read: Revelations 22, Ephesians 2:19-20, Matthew 27:52-53
Weekly Memory Verse: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.” Psalm 8:1, ESV