Victory in Death

This past weekend, I headed back to Texas to celebrate the life of my dear grandfather, BDaddy.  Recounting our memories with him and God's faithfulness in his life will be a memory I hold close for years to come.  It was a real family reunion, and his legacy- his family- was there to see him off to his eternal home.  Our reunion for his funeral was not the kind you look forward to, but it was the kind you leave knowing they don't get any sweeter.  We were unified around a single hope, the hope of Christ and his power to save and deliver our BDaddy safely home.

My BDaddy accomplished many things in his life.  As my own father pointed out at his service, "Big Daddy" showed up BIG in all areas of his life- family, work, service to country, and grace.  He was a big hearted man.  But all of us were reminded that while we could aspire to and celebrate his many accomplishments, our hope was not placed in any of those things.  No, our hope is in Jesus Christ and the faith He gave to my BDaddy to trust in Him alone for his salvation.  For those of us who share that faith, we have the real hope of seeing our BDaddy again in our eternal home.

People don't always pay attention to what will truly matter on the day their family gathers around and celebrates their life.  Will they be celebrating only in past accomplishments or in a real hope for the future?  At my grandfather's funeral, celebrating in the past alone would have been hopeless.  Celebrating in a future together with Christ could not have been more exciting. 

There is nothing natural about death.  Death is part of a fallen world, and it hurts.  But there is something right about knowing that death has been defeated through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Celebrating the victory we have in Him this past week was sweet indeed!

I love you BDaddy.  Your life causes me to treasure the victory we share in Jesus all the more.  How I look forward to being with you soon in a place where there is no more tears, no more pain, and no more death.

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory'... But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:54-57