July 3
The Victory
Over Death
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
Daily Steps
The greatest fear that destroys human peace is the certainty of death. This passage provides the new believer with the ultimate source of spiritual tranquility: Christ's victory over death.
The peace in this truth is found in the final transformation:
The Promise of Transformation: The Christian's future is not just a spiritual existence, but a physical one. Our "perishable" (mortal, decaying) bodies will be clothed with the "imperishable" (immortal) nature of the resurrection body. This promise eliminates the anxiety surrounding physical decay and loss.
The Quote of Triumph: The promise allows the believer to mock death itself, shouting: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The "sting" of death is sin (1 Cor. 15:56), but since sin has been forgiven (peace with God, Day 174), death is disarmed. The threat is gone.
The Result is Consolation: This certainty means that death is not an ending but a transformation and a gateway to eternal life. This conviction secures the deepest peace possible, allowing the believer to live with a hope (Day 175) that is unshakeable by the reality of mortality.
Your peace in the unseen world is secured by Christ's victory. Rest in the promise of resurrection, for death has been swallowed up in victory, and its sting is forever removed.
Reflective Question
If you truly believe that death has been swallowed up in victory and your future is an imperishable body, what worry or anxiety about the future (illness, aging, loss) can you confidently dismiss today?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess the fear of death that sometimes steals my peace. I thank You for the ultimate victory won by Your Son, Jesus Christ. I pray for the faith to rest in the promise that my mortal body will be clothed with immortality.
Secure my peace today by eliminating the sting of death in my heart, and fill me with the hope of the resurrection. Amen.
