As Death Gives way to Victory

"...I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!"

Today, I was reading through the Daily Mail when I saw, and read, the most tragic report on Iraq.  The headline read "ISIS executes 19 girls for refusing to have sex with fighters."  I wanted to turn away, I wanted to close my eyes - I didn't want to read it. 

(read article here)

Yet, I couldn't turn a blind eye.

The article didn't specify how many, if any, of these girls were Christians, but the price list for buying a girl for such purposes, specifically mentions Christians.  I thought about those poor girls, so scared, so sickened, so alone.  I hope they all knew Christ as their Saviour.  Those who did are already with their Lord, their tears and sorrows have vanished, they are no longer dressed in earthly white robes, but in heavenly ones.  No one can touch them there.   

When I finished the article, I thought of the line of the hymn "As death gives way to Victory."  For those who are Christians, their death has turned to victory.  A Victory that ISIS can never comprehend.  A Victory that can never be lost.  

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!