Where is Death’s Victory?

Nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. What do you “do” for the Lord? None of your “works” can get you into heaven. So, of what value are “works”…things that you “do”? God does it all. He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. We can’t obtain victory on our own. We “do” things after we become Christians to serve the Lord. We become doers of the Word—not to get us into heaven, but because we want to help others.

Baptize others. Pray for others.
Rejoice and be glad.
Be doers of the word.
Baptizing friends in the Jordan River.

But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:22-27

“Doing” may be teaching others about Jesus so that one day they will go to heaven, too. Maybe baptizing them, or it may be just an act of service, like providing food, clothing, or assistance to someone who is sick, homeless, or grieving. To serve someone is to serve God Himself. One day we will die…and in that death the victory will be for Jesus. He has saved us from eternal damnation…and saved us to an eternity with Him. That is love…no greater love than with the one that gave His life for us…and that even now is seated at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, pleading for mercy on our lives.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 1 John 2:1-2

Jesus has power over the sting of death—and since we belong to Him, if we believe in Him as our Savior, then death has no power over us, not even to wound to our souls. These bodies may die and decay…but we will be given new bodies.

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:18-23

 

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

 

Meditate today and be strong.

 

Prayer ~ Thank You Lord, we won't be misled—no one can mock the justice of God. People will always harvest what they plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So we will not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:7-10. Guide us today to do Your will in serving others.                                                                                                                                                                                       © 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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