The last enemy
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:26 (NIVUK)
I heard of someone attending some training on time management. The idea is that we can all take control of our lives and manage our time. To make the point, the facilitator asked, “Can anyone tell me of an appointment that you cannot cancel, reschedule or simply miss?” There was an awkward silence, then a woman raised her hand and said, “Yes, your death.” The silence that followed was even more awkward.
Nobody likes to be reminded that they’re going to die, and there’s nothing they can do about that stubborn fact. Death is an enemy that will get all of us in the end, a master before whom we must bow one day. Except, that is, that Christ has been raised from the dead, and so those who will believe in him will also be raised from the dead, and Christ will destroy death once and for all.
The apostle Paul tells us there’s a definite order to things: It will be “each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power” (verses 23-24). It’s in that context that “the last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
But why is death “the last enemy”? It’s because it was the first enemy. Death entered the world when sin entered the world (Genesis 3). Sin is essentially an act of insubordination, of defiance, refusing to do as God says. For death to be destroyed, sin has to be dealt with, order has to be restored, and there needs to be proper submission to God once again. And so we’re told that “the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God will be all in all” (verse 28).
If God doesn’t raise our bodies after all, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then death hasn’t been destroyed. It has taken and kept our bodies. And then God’s not all in all, after all. He doesn’t reign supreme, he has a competitor. But God will destroy death. He will raise our bodies, just as he raised Christ’s, and so he will be all in all. “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 57) – victory even over our last enemy.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for raising Christ from the dead; thank you that you will raise me from the dead, along with all who belong to you; thank you that you will destroy death; thank you that you will be all in all. Keep me from being moved from these great facts, and help me to give myself fully to your work, knowing that it will not be in vain. Amen.
Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)