Earthquake in Japan causes a tsunami in the Pacific region

A major earthquake hit just outside the north-east coast of Japan at 6.46am Central European Time this morning. Many people have died and it is expected that the number of dead people will rise in the hours and days to come. It is a terrible start of the weekend  -  also for us who live far away.

Infrastructure has been damaged and many people are in mourning for dead relatives and friends. In Kipchumba's corner today, I would like to emphasize that death has no sting for people who believe in Jesus Christ.

"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1st Corinthians 15:55-57)

Like today, life here on earth some times brings sad news about disasters and death. Such days are sad days of mourning. But even on such sad days, we can be happy to have Jesus Christ. Thanks to Him, death has no sting. The scripture above explains that the sting of death is sin, and that the strength of sin is the law.

Why is it that death has no sting for us who believe in Jesus Christ? The Bible tells us that God took the law of sin and death out of the way, and replaced it with life in Jesus Christ. So, because God took the law away, He also took away the strength of sin. Jesus Christ became our sin, and sin was nailed on the cross. And when sin is gone, death has no sting.

In the prophet Hosea, the Lord says: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death". The prophet Isaiah says in chapter 25, verses 8-9, that the Lord will swallow up death forever through His salvation.

When having received and accepted Jesus Christ's salvation, we do not have to mourn without hope, like those who have not received and accepted Him do. Because we know that a relative or a friend who died being a believer is happy in Paradise and we know that one day, we will see him/her again.