Theora Won!

I read the obituaries in the local newspaper on a regular basis, because I have now lived long enough in this community that I am acquainted with some of the people whose death notices are printed there. Very often the loved one is honored with words along the line of "On Tuesday morning, Margaret lost her courageous battle with a brain tumor," or "Albert lost his long fight with heart disease." Recently a friend shared a message from a member of her extended family, a man who had just said "goodbye" to his life's companion.

In preparing for her final journey, this woman told her husband at breakfast only weeks before she died, "Don't ever say Theora lost the battle to cancer!" With a bit of fire in her gentle eyes and a feisty tone to her quiet voice, she explained that cancer may have broken her body beyond repair, but she wanted everyone to know that Theora—her soul, her spirit, the very essence of her being—won!

So on the night that she died, this man wrote, "As she wanted, I will tell you clearly, tonight she has left her broken body behind and has been ushered into the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah! Theora won!"

As the Scripture reminds us, death is the last enemy we face on our earthly journey, but that does not mean it is the victor! "Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death." (Hebrews 2:14) So Jesus "broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News." (II Timothy 1:10)

Yes, Theora died. So shall we all. And because Jesus lives, we too shall live!

We win!

MaryMartha

Theora's family has kindly granted their permission to share her final testimony specifically on this blog. Please do not copy or re-distribute this post without their permission, which you may request by email through the address in my profile.

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/ by jschutt