1 Corinthians 15:54-58 

⁵⁴When 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.” ⁵⁵“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Charity

         A prince started a charity foundation to help a certain group of people in need. Surely, he wanted the Chair of the Board of Trustees of his charity to have similar goal. More than 20 years later, the Chair and Members of the Board cannot agree, what should the prince do? The prince stopped his support and detached himself from the charity he founded. He had a noble purpose to help a particular group of people but the Chair of the Board wants to chase a personal agenda, and relationship among the leaders was beyond repair accordingly.

         Even if recipients are very slow to appreciate it, helps for the needy are not in vain or wasted. The Lord rewards our good deeds. Let’s learn from how David behaved after they helped the people of Kielah. Kielah was a town southwest of Bethlehem in Judah. The Philistines attacked and looted the town of Kielah.

         David and his men saved the town of Kielah from the Philistine attackers. At the same time, King Saul was trying to eliminate David. Then a spy told King Saul that David was in Kielah. So, King Saul and his forces prepared to go to Kielah to capture David and his men. In narrated in 1 Samuel 23:9-13, ⁹When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” ¹⁰David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. ¹¹Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will.” ¹²Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will.” ¹³So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

         Possibly, most residents of Kielah in Judah were related to David. For sure, they appreciated that David and his men saved them from the Philistine invaders, but the people of Kielah were also scared that King Saul may destroy their town and swallow them alive. What would you do, if you were residents of Kielah?

It must be embarrassing on the part of the Kielah residents to surrender David and his men to King Saul, but they have to survive. They wanted to live. They didn’t want to be destroyed by King Saul. David understood their situation. David and his men left Kielah after the Lord confirmed the plan of King Saul.

         Survival instinct says, “Protect the most important!” Election had been set. Politicians are active again. They attack other politicians also, just to protect their own agenda, or else their hope to win the election may die. And who wants to die anyway? Who is scared of death? When Christ returns, he will transform our mortal earthly body into immortality, and death will be swallowed up in victory.

1.  Swallow

⁵⁴When 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.” ⁵⁵“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

         Seriously pray that Christ will return in our generation, if you are scared of death. Why? At the coming of Christ, trumpets will sound. First, dead believers will resurrect into immortality. Together with them, we meet Christ in the air. Theologians calls that event as Rapture of Believers from the earth. Dead or alive, believers will resurrect to meet Christ in the air. God removes resurrected believers from the earth to meet Christ in the air. It will be glorious rejoicing.

We will be transported into eternal heaven with God. Dead believers of God receive immortal body that will never decay or decompose. We who’re still alive when Christ returns will be given immortal body, and meet Christ in the air. Our mortal perishable earthly bodies will decompose and return to dust on earth.

         Anyone who rejected Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will remain on earth and endure a widespread evil suffering. After the Rapture, death cannot scare us anymore. Raptured believers will be spared from the Great Tribulation. Christ described the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:21-22, ²¹For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. ²²If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

         Certainly, whatever Christ declares will happen. Christ declared that the Great Tribulation will be intensely distressful and never been equaled from the beginning of the world. Scholars approximated that the 7-year Tribulation has two parts. The first three and a half years will be less distressful, but the next three and half years is worst; it is called Great Tribulation. Can you believe it?

During the 7-year Tribulation, people will be marked by the beast. Without mark, they will suffer consequences. The government, economy, establishments and institutions will be controlled by the devil. People will line up to be marked by the beast if they want get favored by the devil and survive. Listen attentively!

During the Great Tribulation, those who witnessed it when true believers were raptured but are left behind may finally decide to trust Christ genuinely.

OAS

         On Election campaign, political topics to be scrutinized include retirement, CPP (Canada Pension Plan), OAS (Old Age Security), GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement). Politicians should publish their plans about retirement, CPP, OAS and GIS. It is very educating to read comments from affected individuals.

There are retirees who blame the government for low retirement income. In contrast, smart individuals prepared for their financial retirement wisely.

Someone testified, “I was an average income earner but I did my best to save as much as I can. I did not waste money on bad vices or luxurious expenditures. So now, I retired comfortably and not very dependent on government subsidy.”

You heard the saying, “Save for rainy days!” Rainy days should be interpreted as days when working outside is not convenient. Working at old age is not convenient. Physical strength and mental ability may fade. And you heard it said, “No work, no pay!” So it is smart and wise to save some of your income.

Spiritually, how can we save also for our eternal retirement. Reflect on what Christ warned in Matthew 6:20-21, ²⁰Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

         If you were planning for your retirement years, be more serious in planning for your eternal retirement. Are you sure that you will enter heaven when Christ returns? Christ teaches, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What do you understand and how do you explain that to ordinary listener?

         If you seriously plan and store up treasure for yourselves in heaven, your heart belongs to heaven. Surely, you’ll enter heaven. But if your focus is material things here on earth only, listen: You might be left behind when Christ returns and takes us into heaven. If you ignore your eternal retirement, you will be shocked. The Great Tribulation will be intensely terrible. People wish to die at that time.

         Well, what do you understand when it says, the sting of death is sin?

2.  Sting

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

         Spring is coming. Soon flowers and fruit trees will bloom. Someone said that he was once stung by wasp, and he suffered all over his body the terrible effect of sting. He had hard time breathing. He is allergic to bees and wasps. So he avoided plants with flowers, and he does not want fruit trees in his yard.

Have you ever been stung by bee, wasp or scorpion? It is terrible. Right?

When it says that the sting of death is sin, sin must have terrible effect to sinners. Sinful activities could be punished by human laws but on Judgment Day punishment for sin is terrifying. And when we disregard the law, we sin. All of us are prone to sin. Our human sinful nature is inclined to rebel against the Lord.

 It declares in Romans 5:12-13, ¹²Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—¹³To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.  

Fake News. It is very distressful and disturbing to read news these days.

There are a lot of fake news. Someone edited an article and published a different version from the original news. She is investigated for possible law violation. Did you know that Fake News had also affected the people in biblical times.

         Seriously reflect on what it narrated in Matthew 28:11-15, ¹¹Some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹²When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

¹⁵So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The practice faith in Christ is adventurous but they missed it when they believed the gossip that had been manipulated by politicians in biblical times. Actually, supporters of politicians spread baseless speculations to destroy the image of their political opponents. Even if you don’t like or support the person, don’t just subscribe to it. Again, God has records for good deeds he rewards.

Likewise, if you have heard gossips from anyone but not from the original speaker, ignore it. If the gossip affected you greatly be prayerful. You’ve got the right to stand for what you believe. But make sure that what you stand for is right and proper in the eyes of God, so that what you stand for is not in vain or wasted.

3.  Stand

⁵⁸Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

         Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Corinth to stand firm and always give themselves fully to the ministry. Truly, no ministry involvement is wasted in the Lord. Some church attendees participate in the ministry when it is convenient to them. Why? Ministry is hard but involvement should always be enthusiastic.

         Have you observed it that it seems like problems attack more often when we decided to be more active in ministry involvement. Anyone can be tempted to follow the ways of the world and focus on materialism. And we wish to explore the amazing experiences that our friends and relatives publish on social media.

         It testified in Psalm 73:2-5, ²But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. ³For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ⁴They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. ⁵They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.

Have you had that episode in life when you were envious of others? Here in North America, materialism, new car, electronic gadget can be easily acquired.

You want to buy something for yourself, or you even want something better than what your friends or relatives had purchased. The Psalmist testified that envy is manipulative. So, he prayed and entered into the presence of God. He confessed in Psalm 73:16-20, ¹⁶When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply ¹⁷till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. ¹⁸Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. ¹⁹How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! ²⁰They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.

         When is materialism prioritized over spiritual life? It was published online:

“They go to work early and never late at work or else the boss gets angry. But because God is mercifully understanding, it is alright for them to be absent or late at church service. So, understand God also if your blessing is late or absent.”

         How do you interpret and practically apply what it declares in Psalm 33:5? ⁵The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Certainly, God is graciously just and faithful. And it’s right for God to reward believers who prioritize him. Do you think, it’s unfair for God to bless his faithful believers more. Won’t you be generous to anyone who cares and prioritizes you?

David: The Lord made David a lowly shepherd into greatest king of Israel. When Prophet Samuel asked Jesse about his sons, David was not included originally until Prophet Samuel asked if he had another son. David was tasked to take care of the sheep, and he was not included during social occasions, why?

         Someone speculated that David was a son of Jesse from another woman or probably his concubine. In Israel custom, children of concubine are legitimate children. Possibly, that was the reason why his older brother did not treat David well before he was crowned as king. Despite the painful circumstance of David, he declared in Psalm 23:1, ¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

         Anyone can easily memorize this passage but to practically apply in our life, we need inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When it becomes a reality that you sense like the God has already delivered everything you need for godly life, you will find out that Christianity is amazing adventure you will ever cherish eternally.

May 1 Corinthians 15:58 resonate as reality in our life until Jesus Christ returns to take us into heaven. ⁵⁸Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

         As we celebrate the Lord Supper, we are reminded to proclaim the gospel of Christ, his death and resurrection, until he comes. May we grow strong in our faith in him for us to prioritize him, and expect much of his blessings. Amen

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