labour in the lord

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Yesterday morning we read together after breakdast: "Death" by James Web, in The Listening Book. 

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Declare I to you, siblings (since share we 

our parents), children of creative love,

that flesh and blood cannot inherit the 

reign of this God, nor can we walk above

unless we're born into that world - native,

indigenous to fam'ly, air, & morn.

These bodies must take on new ways translative-

ly, as did fetus from its womb, when born.

Perishability inherits the 

imperishable - takes it on, as clothes.

Our mortal bods take immortality. 

The ancient prophet's words shed light on those:

‘Death has been killed and eaten, swallowed up

by victory.’ And yet another speaks:

‘O death, you have not won! - your sting's abrupt-

ly dissipated, lost, behind yon peaks.

Death, can be simply sleep, a gracious gift.

But when combined with sin, it has a sting.

Sin gets its power to hurt and maim and shift,

from God's own law, a good and helpful thing.

And thank we all our God, for victory

through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who's won the day.

So listen, & I'll tell a mystery: 

'Not even ev'ryone will sleep.' I say.

But we his followers will all be changed 

– & in a flash, the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trumpet blast, all will be ranged

before Creative Love, though most have died.

All dead will resurrect, but those alive,

in Christ, will all be changed. So stand your ground.

Let nothing make you fearful or contrive

intimidation. Suffering's been found

to be in good God's service, to help grow;

and even death is sleep, so give yourselves

to do the work of God, because you know 

your labour in the Lord brings on more health!

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I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:50‭-‬58 NIVUK

Two things are certain: death & taxes…

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