Mystery and Victory

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (ESV)

Mystery and Victory

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery.We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Mystery and Victory is the title of this passage in my Bible. I love it! Sometimes, it is my sheer delight to simply bring us to a passage that is full of victory for the refreshment of our souls. It seems to me there should be something in the heart of every believer that jumps to their feet at attention and salutes when these words are read...no, let me change that...there should be something in our hearts that drops us to our knees in reverent awe! Sometimes, I let it slip from my mind that I have already put on the imperishable. My mortal body has already put on immortality. Death has already been swallowed in victory! I am not waiting to be changed. I have been changed. Of course, there are things that are not yet realized, but when my Lord looks at me, He sees Jesus. The Holy Spirit is living proof inside of me of my redemption. I am just waiting for the trumpet sound. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV)

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.