If Only...

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men (1 Corinthians 15:18).

Yesterday Christians all around the world celebrated the reality that, because of Jesus’ resurrection, there is hope beyond the grave.  We celebrated the event that gives meaning to our faith.  We celebrated forgiveness of sins and the promise of heaven.

If you’re anything like me, you think far too little about the resurrection.  I often strive to live the Christian life without reflecting on the single incident which prevents my faith from being futile.  Because Christ’s resurrection is the basis of our faith, I want to take a minute to consider the implications of this all-important event, using Paul’s explanation in 1 Corinthians 15 as a guide.
  • Because of Jesus’ resurrection, there is value to faith and ministry.  We have something to  believe in and a message to share with the world (15:14,16).
  • Because of Jesus’ resurrection, there is forgiveness of sins.  We can live in confident assurance that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (15:17; Romans 8:1).
  • Because of Jesus’ resurrection, the dead will one day rise.  We can be comforted that “those who have fallen asleep in Christ” are not lost (15:18,22).
  • Because of Jesus’ resurrection, our hope extends beyond this life.  We can live in constant awareness that death is not the end nor is our faith based on something temporary (15:19).

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can embrace life on earth with all its joys, challenges, and struggles fully assured that the best is yet to come. 

-Abbey Le Roy

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