death, where is your sting?

"where, O death, is your victory?
where, O death, is your sting?"

~the bible

today I found out that Larry Norman (an old Christian rocker) died on the 24th february - last month. I'm sad, because he was an incredible lyricist and I really enjoy listening to his music. I'm also sad because I know that the end of his life was quite a struggle physically, he was very ill.

but I also rejoice for him. the writer of the book of hebrews in the bible writes

"Christ... has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

Larry Norman died knowing this, that death was not the end of it all for him - that one day Jesus will return, the dead will be raised to life and judged. and for Larry (it sounds like I know him - doesn't it!), that means being judged not according to the life he lived (sinful, like mine and yours), but according to Jesus' sinless life...

but maybe more of that tomorrow.