Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

"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'; 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?'"¹

Some time ago I wrote about my friend Graham who died of cancer at age 44. When visiting him in the hospital, he shared with me how he was ready to die and how much he was looking forward to meeting his Heavenly Father. The day following his death, Graham's wife, Jenny, shared with me how he had made a videotape to leave some thoughts with friends and family and how, with outstretched arms he described how he was longing to meet God face to face.

On Graham's last day (now at home), seeing him gasping for breath, Jenny called for the doctor. As the doctor walked into the room, Graham's almost lifeless body momentarily seemed to come to life. With eyes closed, suddenly he sat bolt upright in bed, and looking upward as if seeing something human eyes couldn't see, stretched out his arms heavenwardâ€"and was gone. His lifeless body collapsed on the bed. Jenny said how there seemed to be a divine presence and aura that filled the entire house.

Graham has been gone from this life for a number of years now, but he lives on with his Heavenly Father in Heaven forever. This is the blessed and most wonderful hope every true believer and child of God has to look forward to. Our death, too, will be swallowed up in victory!

This is because all who have accepted Jesus, the Son of God, as their personal Savior and have had all their sins forgiven, have God's promise and assurance of eternal life with him in Heaven where there will be no more sickness, sadness, suffering, sorrow, parting or dying. Forever!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You gave Your Son Jesus to die on the cross in my place to pay the ransom price for all my sins and to give me the gift of eternal salvation. Thank You, too, for the blessed hope that I have because I have accepted Jesus as my Savior and I, too, look forward to meeting You face to face. In the meantime, help me to live life to the fullest always with eternal values in mind. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.�

NOTE: If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior and are not sure of life after death, be sure to read "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NIV).

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