Boxing requires offense and defense. Boxers can protect themselves by keeping their hands in front of their face and body. But when you “put up your dukes” in defense, you can’t punch. You can also dance around the ring: if he can’t reach you, he can’t hurt you. But if you keep your distance, you’ll never be able to punch him either.
Defense alone does not win boxing matches. You have to move in close, drop the arms, and land a few punches—actually, you need to land a lot of punches. But moving in is a risk. You get punched when you lower your arms—but it is the only way to win. You will NOT win without opening yourself up to the blows of your opponent. This is true in other sports: the winning pass may be intercepted. The strikeout pitch may become the homerun. The three-point attempt may give the other team an easy rebound. But you have to take risks.
So it is with death. Eventually, all God’s people drop their arms and take the punch. Death looks like defeat—the believer’s body collapsing forever. But God punches back:
“The trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised immortal, the broken body subject to decay will rise perfect and invulnerable. The mortal will be clothed with immortality. The defeat of Death will be swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Oh, death, where is your sting? … Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through Christ Jesus Our Lord!” 1 Corinthians 15:52-57.
Death is one of life’s greatest challenges, both for the dying and for the grieving. It can hurt physically and emotionally, and what could be more frightening? But death is that moment when a Christian lowers his defenses—and hits back with a knockout punch from Jesus, the One Who Conquered Death: “Death is SWALLOWED UP in victory. Death, where is your victory? Oh, death, where is your sting?”
God, give us the courage to face death, knowing it is the door to victory, and our moment to join You in Your Kingdom!
ΑΩ
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