As a parish pastor, I have visited many people over the years. It has been a blessing to minister to people in their homes, hospital rooms, and assisted living facilities. Often on such visits, we end up sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying good conversation. Often, as we gather around the table, I will notice that an individual has several containers of prescription medication. I have seen more than one individual expected to take staggering amounts of medication to enable their bodies to keep on going.
Swallowing pills is quite common: vitamins, supplements, pain relievers, and prescription medication are all taken in an effort to put off swallowing that one pill that no one wants to take. That last bitter pill is death. No amount of vitamins or medication can ultimately prevent it. Whether we live to be 80, 90, or even 100 years old, we will all eventually encounter this inevitability. Death is undefeated.
Actually, it was undefeated until Jesus came along. Jesus died a horrible death, and it looked like he would face the same fate as everyone else. But then something happened. He didn’t stay dead. Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, forever conquering death for all who believe in him. In his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has swallowed up the one enemy none of us could defeat. Through faith in Jesus and his saving work on our behalf, we are saved. Death is not the final answer for God’s children. Death for the one who believes in Jesus is now nothing more than the door to heaven. Because of Jesus, heaven is ours!
God blesses us in this world with medicine and doctors who help us to continue living and serving the Lord. Thanks be to God when this earthly life is over, death holds no power over us!
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, you have done what I could not. Thank you for defeating death and swallowing it up forever. Help me to live for you here and to look forward to the day I will be with you. Amen.
