A person died today.
Nothing that doesn't happen everyday, but rarely in my sphere of awareness.

My heart has been unusually heavy especially considering my distant connection with this individual. For the longest time that fact confused me. I suppose I'm burdened because of the hopelessness this person's family must be experiencing.

Celebrating Easter only a few weekends ago and being uniquely struck with the power of the resurrection, this comes as a stark contrast to how we, as children of God, experience death.
I think of the passage I Corinthians 15:54-58, "But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality,"
At salvation Christ's imperishable righteousness is imputed on our account.
Paul continues, "then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Christ's resurrection removed the effects of sin. For believer's there is still physical death, the separation of soul and body, however the sting is not there. We died with the certainty that to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord not with guilt or fear of condemnation.
Paul concludes with a challenge:
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."

We know we have the Victory and we are supposed to live as though we have Victory by abounding in the Lord's work.
Are we living in light of the Ressurection? Do we serve a living Savior.