Good Morning All,
I watched an old western movie the other
night. It had Walter Brennan in it. He was a crusty, retired army scout who was
helping the star of the movie try to get 100 repeating rifles to a distant
fort. Everyone was trying to steal the
guns and then turn around and sell them.
First it was some scavenger type guys.
Then it was some of the men in his command and finally it was a party of
Indian raiders. Of course, Walter
Brennan’s character knew the Indian chief and could speak to him.
As the final battle with the Indians raged,
many of the army members were getting shot and dying. The army was trying to keep the weapons from
the Indians, but it looked bleak. Just
as the Indians were about to capture the guns, out came Walter Brennan. He had filed all the firing pins of the guns
so the guns would not shoot. Seeing that
the guns were worthless, the Indians rode away.
The army failed to get the guns, but the army kept the guns away from an
enemy who planned on using those guns against them. The weapons no longer worked so the value of
the gun was nothing.
Our text tells us this same truth. The sting of death is sin, and the power of
sin is the law. After Jesus died and
rose again, the “firing pin” of sin is gone.
It is the pain of eternal death which gives death its sting. But with Christ’s victory over the grave and
with his glorious resurrection, the tomb that once sealed us in is now only a
door for us. In the blink of an eye, the
world changed. In the blink of an eye,
we enter into his heavenly kingdom.
The sting and power are gone; the joy and
grace are here to stay. With Jesus’ victory over the grave, a victory which he
lovingly gives to us, we are guaranteed salvation. With Christ’s victory we can loudly cry, “O
death where is your victory? O death
where is your sting?” We are assured of
victory.
We can take comfort and hope in this
statement. We have victory because of
Jesus. No matter what the world throws at you, not matter what trouble or pain
you may feel; God is there to save us.
We will always be victorious! It
may be on the other side of the grave, but we enter it knowing that there is no
sting to harm us. So, as we look forward
to celebrating this Easter season, we can take hope in our victory, won by
Christ and freely given to us. Jesus won the victory and has given it to you. We
are in the loving arms of our magnificent Savior who gives us life, hope, peace,
and eternal salvation.
Dearest
Father in heaven, to you alone goes all glory.
Be with us and defend us from the power of the devil and his ways. Protect us with your mighty hand. Receive us into your blessed kingdom. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.
God’s
Peace,
Pastor
Bret
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