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哥林多前书：15:24-26: 24再后，末期到了，那时，基督既将一切执政的、掌权的、有能的都毁灭了，就把国交与父神。25因为基督必要作王，等神把一切仇敌都放在他的脚下。26尽末了所毁灭的仇敌就是死。
保罗称死亡为“仇敌。”我知道对于我曾经服事过的某些人来说，死亡就像一个朋友来访一样，可以让他们从痛苦中解脱出来。一位老医生曾经告诉我，多年前，肺炎曾被称为“老年人的朋友。”他又接着说道：“现在几乎没人再死于肺炎了。”我还记得小时候我父亲谈论某个人摔断了髋关节：“她活不过三个星期。”为什么？因为他会死于肺炎。
死亡在一个人的生命末期会成为他的朋友吗？不，它依然并将永远是仇敌。我父亲去世的时候91岁。他得了结肠癌。我的哥哥一天24小时陪护他。有一次他不得不离开半个小时，留下父亲一个人，它叮嘱父亲不要离开椅子。当然，父亲没有听话，他摔了一跤。当我哥哥发现父亲躺在地板上，他用指关节敲着地板说：“开枪吧！到此为止吧。”不到一个星期父亲就去世了。死亡永远是仇敌，现在过去将来都是。
直到耶稣在末日再来！当耶稣将一切掌权的、有能的都毁灭了后，他最后毁灭的仇敌就是死。然后就把他的国度交与父神，这个国就是藉着他的血救赎的、靠着他的话语聚集的教会。那将是得胜的一天！不仅仅是耶稣得胜，也包括我们大家，会一起分享这个胜利。再也没有死亡、没有悲伤、没有哭泣和痛苦。从那天以后直到永远，对我们来说，那将是何等大的喜乐！
祷告：仁慈的救主，复活的主，耶稣求你快来！愿那日速速到来。到那时你将永远毁灭我们的仇敌就是死。在那日到来之前，即使我不得不面临死亡，也请让我活在盼望和喜乐里。阿们。
1 Corinthians 15: 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has done away with every other ruler and every other authority and power. 25 For he must reign “until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” 26 Death is the last enemy to be done away with. (EHV)
Paul calls death the “enemy.” I know that for some of the people I ministered to, death came as a friend to relieve them of their suffering. An old doctor once told me that years ago, pneumonia was called the “friend of the elderly.” Then he added, “Almost no one dies of pneumonia anymore.” I can remember as a youth my father saying about someone who broke her hip, “She’ll be gone in three weeks.” Why? Because pneumonia would set it.
Is death a friend in the end? No. It is still and always will be an enemy. My father was 91 years old when he died. He had cancer in his colon. My brother spent almost 24 hours a day with him. He went left dad alone for a half hour with instructions not to get out of his chair. Of course, Dad didn’t listen, and he fell. When my brother found him on the floor, my father rapped the floor with his knuckles and said, “Shoot. Now that’s the end of it!” He died within the week. Death is always the enemy and it always will be.
Until Jesus comes again on the last day! Then the last enemy to be destroyed will be death, after Jesus has done away with every other authority and power. Then he will hand the kingdom, the Church which he redeemed by his blood and gathered with his Word, over to the FAther. What a day of victory that will be! And not only for Jesus, but for all of us who share in that victory. No more death or sorrow or crying or pain! Oh, what joy will be ours on that day and forever!
Prayer: Gracious Savior, risen Lord, even so come, Lord Jesus! Hasten that day when you will come and destroy our enemy, death, forever! Until that day comes, Lord, let me live in hope and joy even in the face of death. Amen.