Rediscover the Bible for Life

“Death’s Deal Breaker”

By Dennis Lee

The Health and Human Services of South Carolina sent a letter to a Greenville County resident saying, “Your food stamps will be stopped, effective March 1992, because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if your circumstances change.”

How can they reapply?

A funeral home was discussing the price of their cemetery lots. The chairman trying to sum up the discussion said, “We should have two prices – one for those local and another rate for those from out of town. The people buried there from out of town never come back to help maintain the grounds.”

If someone is buried they’re not coming back, local or out of town.

Death is permanent, and everyone has experienced the reality of a family member or friend who has died, and over time we’ve learned to work through our grief and accept as a reality his or her absence.

But what would happen if all of a sudden they suddenly came back to life. Talk about the shock.

This is a deal breaker as far as death is concerned. Experience teaches us that if someone is dead, they’re dead, but if the body moves the funeral’s over.

And that’s exactly what happened at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He broke once and for all death’s hold on humanity.

Guards were set outside Jesus’ tomb because the authorities were worried the disciples would steal Jesus’ body and make it seem like He rose from the dead.

But when the angel rolled away the stone to reveal the reality that Jesus had indeed been raised from the dead, it says that the guards shook with fear and became like dead men.

Jesus’ body moved, therefore the funeral is over. He’s alive, and humanity’s reality has changed forever. This Sunday is Easter when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, and the fact that He is alive.

Unfortunately, however, that’s not a reality for most. While they acknowledge the story and even the facts, they’ve not been gripped by its relevance, which is why so many remain distant and untouched by this reality.

They treat the story as if Christ rose from the dead, but then went back to the tomb.

Jesus didn’t just make an appearance and that was it. He’s alive and present with all who call upon His name. The resurrection isn’t some nice story to tell in church on a Sunday morning. Rather it’s the story of Jesus’ conquest over death and the power of God let loose among all those who worship Him.

The resurrection of Jesus is death’s deal breaker.

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54b-55 NKJV)