I wrote this post on January 13th 2016. Last year had several hard goodbyes, one including my sweet grandma, and even as I reflect on my perspective that day I am blessed by the truth that God has defeated death. 

Maybe you have had some battles appear to be lost to death recently. If so, take heart that everyone who is in Christ has been given new life, and that ultimately, death doesn't get to win. 

---

I found out today that my aunt passed away. She has been in a hard battle for three years after a heart attack that put her through surgeries and kept her in the hospital for months at a time. I'm heartbroken for her and especially for her family, but let me tell you a secret.

Death didn't win the battle today.

All of humanity spends its energy, fleeing and fighting our worst fear: death. We run from pain and avoid decay and do everything we can not to die. In ancient times the dream of human kings was to be immortal. In our day we focus billions of dollars trying to avoid the thing that none of us can. No matter the might and strength we hold, no matter the wealth and prominence we possess, no matter our accomplishments, we are all met with the great enemy--death. It's the result of sin that we cannot escape.

Every man dies, but only one Man died for love, and in doing so did the one thing we couldn't. (Beat it). There really is a love as strong as death (Song of songs 8:6). Stronger even.

The thing that man succumbs to is no match for the Life Breather and Universe Maker. He faced off with our conqueror and conquered it forever. His love is stronger than death and that means that death doesn't get to win!

God took death and made it work for Him--for His glory and for our good. While we were still His enemies, God used the death of His own Son to make us friends with Him again. He is the one who takes what the enemy means for evil and uses it for our good.

Today the enemy came to steal, kill and destroy, but he doesn't get to win. Today we grieve and we feel loss, but we are not hopeless.

God made death work for His purpose--the reconciliation of the whole world. And for all who are in Christ, death gets to work for our good too. Even when our bodies decay and when it appears we've lost the fight, death doesn't win.

On a cold morning in a tomb 2,000 years ago death lost the war. For the first time in all of history, the grave didn't keep its prey. Christ, the son of God, became the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

As Paul said, "Christ lives within us, so even though your body dies because of sin, the Spirit gives you life." (Romans 8:10) And, "our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. (1 Cor. 15:43)

Now, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.This is why death hasn't won. This is why Glenda is a victor today.