Victory in Jesus

Posted by on Apr 18, 2011 | Comments Off on Victory in Jesus

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

I dropped my children off at school and headed home. It was dark and rainy, the mountains hidden in clouds. But suddenly rays of brilliant sunshine broke through the blackened clouds. It seemed as if all of heaven was shining through that one small opening, the tops of the clouds shining in radiant silver, so beautiful it brought me to tears. As I pulled over to retrieve my sunglasses, it was as if the voice of God whispered in my ear that He was showing me a glimpse of heaven and to remember it for what lay ahead. I even prayed He would prepare me to meet what ever was coming, trusting Him for strength to see it through. I had no idea what I was asking for.

Later, as the clouds departed and the sun came out, we arrived home from school to see that my husband was home early. We hurried inside, ready for some unexpected fun. But one look at his face told me that something was terribly wrong.

In a moment I will never forget, my world was shattered. My mother had called him from a friends’ where she and my dad were visiting. The men had gone fly fishing, and there, in the midst of the river, my father was struck by lightning out of a clear blue sky, killing him instantly. As my sobs subsided, I realized that the message from my heavenly Father had been preparation for the home-going of my earthly father. I had seen the heaven where he now resided.

Through the bitterness of grief and pain our family was sustained by the words of my precocious eleven-year-old son. “Mom, Grandpa went from fishing on that river in Farmington to fishing on that river that flows through heaven.” The simplistic faith of a child, transferring what he knew of earth to what he had heard of heaven brought the kindness of a loving God to our hurting hearts.

Do you have grief and pain that nothing eases? Do you fear death, or grieve the loss of a loved one?

As Christians we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We cling to that eternal hope. The message of Easter is for everyone who places their faith in Him.

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, death now holds no sting. Heaven’s gates are open wide!


Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman. Do not use without written permission of the author.

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