Monthly Message
by Dean Allen
Dean Allen serves as a deacon at SRVBC and is the author of SRVBC's Monthly Message
Previous Messages:
January 2024
February 2024
March 2024
Dean Allen serves as a deacon at SRVBC and is the author of SRVBC's Monthly Message
Previous Messages:
January 2024
February 2024
March 2024
Victory Over Death
April 2018
The word “victory” in the Greek is the word “nike.” Three times in this passage Paul used it in connection with the resurrection of our Savior. It is such a strong word, a positive word, a triumphant word. The hymn writer said, “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes; He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign; He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose.”
Of all the victories this world has ever seen, the resurrection of Christ is by far the greatest. Earthly victories are temporal; Christ’s victory is eternal. Earthly victories must be repeated again and again; Christ’s victory was achieved once, never needing to be done again. Earthly victories are shared only by a few; he victory of Christ is shared by all who believe. Resurrection Day is the greatest day of the year. It supersedes any other day.
The story is told of a little girl whose home was near a cemetery, and in order to go to the store, she had to follow a path that led through the cemetery. But this little girl never seemed to have any sense of fear, even when she returned through the cemetery at dusk. Someone said to her, “Aren’t you afraid to go through the cemetery?” “Oh, no,” she replied, “I’m not afraid, for my home is just beyond.” For us as believers, our home is just beyond this world, just beyond death and the grave.
Let us rejoice this Easter that Christ rose from the dead, and one day we will rise to be with Him in heaven for ever. Someone once said, “Because of Good Friday you can look back and not be afraid; because of Easter you can look ahead and not be afraid; because of Ascension Day you can look up and not be afraid; and because of Pentecost you can look inward and not be afraid.” What a victory we have in Jesus, our Risen King!