“Death is Swallowed up in Victory.”
By N. Orcutt
How fraught with consolation to the child of God is the thought that the hour is near, when this language of the apostle, which has cheered the heart of many a wayworn pilgrim while they have looked forward to the consummation of their hope, will be fulfilled, no longer an object of faith, desire, and expectation, but a glorious reality. Now we witness the ravages of death—parents, companions and children, fall beneath his power. We see them suddenly stricken down, or, under the influence of disease, wither, droop and die. Under such circumstances, but for a faith resting upon the immutable promises of God's word, we should sorrow as those "which have no hope." What cause of gratitude we have that we can in the hour of affliction say with Peter, “Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” He has “the keys of hell and of death.” He has been partaker with the children of flesh and blood, “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death.” When all other foes have yielded to his power, even the last enemy shall be destroyed. Faith resting upon the word of God, now points forward to such a glorious consummation; to a land where “there shall be no more death,” “neither sorrow nor crying, neither . . . any more pain;” to a time when the shout of a world redeemed shall proclaim, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” That land is no longer far off; that time is now specially nigh. And while we know that the glorious restitution is inseparably connected with the coming of Jesus, Acts iii, 19–21, and hear him testify “Surely I come quickly,” who that is looking and longing for the return of the children from the land of the enemy, and to see the earth “cast out her dead and no more cover her slain,” but will respond, “Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus.” “Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”