Tag: Victory Over Death

The Contender – A Celebration of Our Freedom

July 4, 2020

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:26

Crown – dfn. a reward of victory or mark of honor especially : the title representing the championship in a sport; a royal or imperial headdress or cap of sovereignty : diadem; imperial or regal power : sovereignty. (Source: Merriam-Webster)

Today is the Fourth of July. Known as “Independence Day’, today we as a nation set aside time to remember and celebrate freedom and liberty. On July 4, 1776 the 13 American colonies officially declared freedom from England’s rule and separation from Britain’s Crown, a freedom which eventually led to the formation of the United States of America.

Crowns signify honor, power, sovereignty, dominion and victory. On this Independence Day we are not only remembering the fight to cast off a political crown leading to freedom, but also the spiritual fight over the conquering of another crown – Death’s Crown and freedom to receive a Crown of Life. Let’s take a look.

The Ring & The Fight

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:21

The fight originated long ago. It was a fight destined before time began between the two contenders (Gen 3:15). In one corner was the champion. He held the title and wore the victor’s crown – The Crown of Death. His earthly name is satan (Job 1:6-9 & Rev 12:9) and his heavenly name was Lucifer (Is 14:12). It was not planned to happen this way. But, because of deceptive and unscrupulous tactics (Gen 3:1-5), he stole the title away from the intended victors of life (Gen 2:7-8, 2:15 & 2:22-25). This fighter carried with him the baggage of a bad reputation (Is 14:13-14) and was known as a ‘dirty player’.

In the other corner was a fighter of a totally different caliber, demeanor and composure. In fact, he looked like no contender for any crown at all (Is 52:14 & 53:2-3). His name was Jesus the son of a carpenter (Mat 13:55 & Mk 6:3). The reigning champion in fact thought it most humorous that such a contender would even dare him and bring him to this level of humiliation. He jeered, he laughed, he mocked and he cajoled at the prospect of being challenged, much less defeated, by such an embarrassment. But, he did not realize who he was dealing with (Is 7:14 & Lk 1:30-33). And he would soon find out.

Round One

And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
Matthew 27:29

The opening bell rang, its shrill reverberating throughout both time and Eternity. The fight began. Out of one corner of the ring one contender emerged with vengeance. His blood burned, his countenance fumed like a dragon (Rev 12:3, 4 & 7) and the corner of his lip dripped with saliva fueled by lust, greed and flesh-like ambition (Mat 4:1-9). In his mind he relished the thoughts:

“This is one fight the world will never forget. This fight will go down in history as MY fight – The Fight of the Ages. The day I finally put to rest the notion that I can be reasonably challenged or it even considered that I can loose my crown, my crown of dominion of life on earth. My victor’s crown of Sin & Death”.

However, something else happened at the opposite corner. Viewed from a distance, the scene was so extreme and macabre it appeared almost in slow motion. “What is going on?” the paying crowd thought. This other contender appeared to not want to fight at all as he walked towards the center of the ring with his fighting gloves down and fearlessly face the impending onslaught. It was as if he wanted to loose and hand his opportunity over without resistance (Joh 10:15, 17-18 & 15:13).

His opponent wasted no time. Pound. Jab. Pound. Pound. Jab. Jab. He did quick work. And it was almost over sooner than he expected, leaving behind a scene almost too horrendous to describe (Mar 15:19-20.

The Stretcher

The defeated opponent seemed barely able to stand upright in the ring. His body now weakened and frail. Seeing victory inevitable, the reigning champion decided to end this match with his most lethal tactic. It was the most painful and shameful weapon in his arsenal. It was what he called ‘The Stretcher’. The stretcher was brought out to carry away his challenger and end the contest (Mar 15:21-38), a contest seemingly not fair from the beginning (or at least the observers thought it was!). In fact, this final act caused the judge to observe something he had never before experienced in all his years working the ring – a fatal knockout. And after seeing what he just observed, he was not sure he wanted to see another one.

A Miraculous Comeback

News of the contest was abuzz and quickly made its way throughout the country (Luk 24:13-19). But, news of something else had captured the people’s attention. Sometime between carrying the contender to his grave and his body being ‘officially’ corrupted after being dead four days, it was reported he was walking around ……… Alive ! (Luk 24:36-41) It could not be. But. it was. He was alive (Rom 6:9).

When the reigning champion received news of his being raised back to life, it struck fear and terror in his spirit (Mat 8:29). His best effort, his most pointed assault failed to finish the work. He did not finish it, his opponent did (Joh 19:30).

Disqualification Leads To Exultation

In every war, in every battle and in every earthly conflict there are rules of engagement to be followed. There are governing bodies in our world that monitor war crimes and crimes against humanity. Why? Because even when humanity is faced with the possibility of annihilation, it intrinsically seeks preservation. It is a nature designed by God. A nature that seeks life, seeks hope and seeks truth. The Lord is running the ship in Heaven and in earth and not the enemy. Truth prevails and truth never fails (Deu 32:4, Ps 57:10, Ps 89:14, Ps 96:13, Ps 146:6, Jn 8:32, Jn 14:6 & Jn 17:17).

Because satan did not follow the rules of engagement (truth) he disqualified himself from the contest (Jn 8:44 & I Jn 2:21). The earthly judge’s decision was ultimately nullified and the crown stripped from the former champion.

The Crown of Death was removed from the Head of the Serpent, and in its place, the Crown of Victory was placed on the Head of the Savior (I Cor 15:54-57). Jesus now gives us freedom over death, wields the Crown of Eternal Life and graciously gives it to those love him (Jam 1:12 & Rev 2:10).

Crown Him. Crown Him. Crown Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. Revelation 6:2I

And I saw, and consider this, a white horse. And he who is seated upon it has a bow. And there was given to him a victor’s crown. And he came forth conquering and in order to conquer. (Wuest)

Happy Fourth of July!

The Cure

June 28, 2014

pill 1O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 15:55-57

Imagine a pill. Not just an ordinary pill, but a totally free pill that can perform wonders. Specifically, twenty-four hours after taking this pill any type of cancer will be cured one-hundred percent of the time, every time – guaranteed.

As sure as water makes you wet or as the sun makes you warm you will be emphatically, instantaneously and unequivocally healed after ingesting this pill.

How wonderful would that be? In twenty-four hours any gnawing pain or bodily discomfort – gone. In twenty-four hours any mass, swelling tissue or surface skin abnormality – gone. In twenty-four hours any internal organ dysfunction – gone. It is that powerful of a pill.

But there are some caveats surrounding this pill. The administration of this pill is carefully regulated due to its precise chemical composition, high production costs, potent healing power and the immense potential for fraud and monetary abuse (i.e., the black market).

Therefore, this pill can only be administered by one and only one authorized distributor and its team of highly qualified individuals each with impeccable integrity. Additionally, because of its unique healing power there are no generic equivalents for this pill. It is a one of a kind pill with no substitute or cheap imitation.

Another Pill

There is another “pill” that shares similar properties to the one mentioned. But this cure is for a more fearful word than the “C” word. And that is for the dreaded “D” word – Death.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is “the pill” (if you will) for the emphatic, instantaneous and unequivocal cure over death.

Yes, that is right. How often we do not see things in the light of eternity, the most essential element of our existence. That space known as forever. The place beyond the grave where the voice of time is rendered speechless. And where the well-worn timepiece tracking humanity’s earthbound busyness gently folds her hands.

It has been said that eternity can be likened to the following analogy. Imagine a metal sphere the size of the earth. Each year a bird flies by and brushes its wing ever so lightly against this enormous ball of metal. When this ball is reduced to nothing by the friction of the bird’s wing, eternity …..has….. just….. begun!

Wow! In light of this thought, to somehow miss heaven and not escape the curse of eternal death is sobering. We have got to make heaven no matter what it takes.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is our escape route. Jesus is our hope, our salvation, our healer, our deliverer, our Saviour, our Light, our Friend, our Father and our Everything!

Now, going back to the description of the miracle pill notice some similarities between the earthly and the heavenly:

Jesus is the cure, but we have to choose him:

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:38 
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46 

The gospel is free to all who would embrace it:

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Jesus is only effective when allowed on “the inside”:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5

God paid an extremely high price to defeat the “D” word – Eternal Death:

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians  2:7-8

Jesus Christ is the only cure and remedy for death:

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:17

There is only one formula for Salvation:

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 2:37-38

There is only one source of Salvation (no generics or cheap imitations allowed!):

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46

 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9

The Gospel Is Not Immune to the Black Market:

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:28-30

The church is the “distributor” of the message for the cure of death – the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13

Jesus is the cure for death. And Jesus is not a pill. Jesus is a Person, a Prince, a Protector and a Provider. Embrace him every day, allow him on the inside and our victory over death is assured.

May God richly bless.

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