"NO SUBSTITUTE FOR VICTORY"

Humans are a competitive breed. We love to win! The apostle Paul tells us that we have the opportunity to win the victory over life, death, sin and the grave. Oh, how great it would be if everyone was as intent on winning this greater victory than all the little victories we strain over so much in this life.

Paul said, "…Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O Hades, where is your sting?...But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:54 - 57

We fear death because of uncertainty. We do not know anyone who has experienced it, and we can't read about it in books, therefore we know nothing about it…is it painful, is it frightening, what do we find after death? We fear death because of what we would leave behind…husband, wife, children, grandchildren, friends, incomplete plans, etc. It is natural for us to decline the option of death whenever possible. But death is a part of life.

It is only today that we have the opportunity to win the victory. Life represents opportunity to change our lives, opportunity to do good for others, opportunity to love our brethren more, opportunity to obey the gospel of Christ. John wrote in 1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." We do not have to guess. If we follow the teachings and principles that are laid down for us in God's holy Word, then we can know whether or not we have the victory. Let us be sure.