The Sting Has Been Removed

Image by duopastorale via Flickr

O Death, where is your sting?
1 Corinthians 15:55

The story's told of a boy and his father driving down a country road on a beautiful spring day when a bee flew in the car window. The boy who was allergic to bee stings, was terrified. The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it into his hand and then released it. The boy grew frantic as it buzzed by him. Again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm. There, stuck in his flesh, was the stinger of the bee. 'Do you see this?' he asked, 'You don't need to be afraid any more. I've taken the sting for you.'

The message of Easter is, as a believer you don't need to fear death because Christ has died and risen again. The sting has been removed. Death is not the end, it's just the beginning! Job, who'd experienced the tragic loss of seven sons and three daughters in a single day, asked, 'If a man dies, shall he live again?' (Job 14:14 NKJV). He needed an answer! We all do. Five chapters later he got one: 'I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!' (Job 19:25-27 NKJV). The Psalmist rejoiced in the same hope: 'As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness' (Psalm 17:15 NKJV). Rejoice: Christ's resurrection guarantees yours!

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.