by Victoria Heinecke

Easter, the ultimate victory.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:5 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

At Easter, I enjoy seeing the photos that my friends post of their churches. Their sanctuaries are decorated with colorful flowers, empty tombs, butterflies and banners. Choirs sing songs of joy, proclaiming Jesus’ victory over death. “The Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah is often sung: “And he shall reign forever and ever!”

A few months ago, we celebrated Jesus’ birth. We welcomed the infant that God sent to save us. Immanuel, God is with us.

God is still with us.

Jesus died so that death would have no finality over us. No matter what happens in this life, we have assurance by his grace that death will not be the end of our lives. Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope, that by believing in him, we may have new life with him when our time on this world ends.

God’s sanctuaries are wonderful gathering places for his people to worship him, to pray and to have fellowship together. However, no building on earth can begin to compare to the glory that we call Heaven. We can’t even describe its wonder.

“Look, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NRSV

Jesus prevails. Satan is defeated.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 NRSV

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Photo copyright Christy Brown