I can never forget the experience! The Sunday service had been conducted on a low-key level. Though the church is a conservative type, the service that day was in an unusual solemn tone. Officiating ministers served reluctantly as if under a spell, killing the smallest desire of excitement in everyone present for worship. By and by the service ended, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief that the unusually boring service had eventually come to a close. But before everyone could get up and start heading home, the pastor came up again for another address: “Just before we go, shall we turn our bibles to the first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Thessalonians, chapter four, reading from verse thirteen…” It was then that people began to suspect that something bad must have happened. Of a truth, something very bad and painful had actually happened! After the reading, the pastor announced the death of a member, a dynamic and dearly beloved brother in the fellowship who slummed down four days before while playing football with some little boys and was immediately rushed to the hospital thereafter… despite all medical treatment, the brother eventually bowed out to the chilling hands of death!
It was a Sad Sunday, a Sunday without sunlight. Tears broke out amidst the people of God. It was a sound of sorrow and sadness in the congregation of the righteous. Like every other person, I left the church venue with a heavy and sorrowful heart. I belonged to the same youth fellowship with the brother. I just managed to get home that day… Oh, what a day that was! The house became dreadful to enter; the whole world suddenly became distasteful. I moved to one corner of the compound where we normally dump refuse, there I sat helplessly as my fountain of tears voluntarily broke on its own accord and that without any restraint! I almost cried blood out of my eyes… Oh, the pain and sorrow of death! Truly, when death has come and taken our loved ones, it naturally fills our eyes with tears, our heart with sorrow; and leaving our homes very lonely and drear! Death! What a deadly, heartless enemy!
I wonder why death doesn’t discriminate; every day, a child, teenager or adult is murdered in the country; people innocently get shot by a stray bullet; committed Christian leaders and workers dying through ghastly road accidents… These deaths have got careless and more unsympathetic! I ask myself and God why good people in life get involved in such tragic deaths, filling our eyes with bitter cry and our heart with deep sorrow. Hnmmmm… For those who have lost a loved one by murder, accident, assassination, sickness, my condolences. It’s indeed a painful experience!
However, death reminds us that life is fragile and that ultimately we’ll all die. Amidst the troubles and worries of everyday life, we often ignore this fact. But times of great tragedy serve to remind us that life is both temporal and fragile. Death comes for us all. And in those moments, we wonder, what will happen when we die? People have opinions. Some believe in reincarnation, others believe that nothing happens. Still others believe that there’s some sort of afterlife that you go if you’re good. But for Christians, we believe that death is not the end of our lives. There is an eventual bodily resurrection from the dead.
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1Cor. 15:12:19).
The bodily resurrection of Christ is the centre of the Christian faith. Because Christ rose from the dead, as He promised, we know that what He said is true and that He is God! The resurrection affirms the truthfulness of Jesus life and words. The resurrection confirms Jesus’ unique authority to say “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Because He rose, He lives and represents us before God. Because He rose and defeated death, we know we also will be raised. Christ resurrection guaranteed both His promise to us and his authority to make that promise. We must take Him for His word and believe.
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Why did Paul say Christian would be miserable if there were only earthly value to Christianity? In Paul’s day, just like today, Christianity often brought persecution, ostracism from family and friends; killings, ridicule, denials, deprivations, imprisonment; and in some cases poverty. Just as Christ had predicted to His followers: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The world hates Christian because Christian’s values differ from the world’s. Since Christ’s followers don’t cooperate with the world by joining in their sin, they are
living accusations against the world’s immorality. The world follows Satan’s agenda, and Satan is the avowed enemy of Jesus and His people. If what Christians believe is a lie, we would be pitiful because we would be going through such suffering for no purpose. Fortunately, that is not the case! Praise God we are not of the world, even as He (Christ) is not of the world. We sure have a hope in Christ beyond this world after our days on earth have been terminated by death. At the heart of the book of Job comes his ringing affirmation of confidence in this same hope of resurrection: “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”
living accusations against the world’s immorality. The world follows Satan’s agenda, and Satan is the avowed enemy of Jesus and His people. If what Christians believe is a lie, we would be pitiful because we would be going through such suffering for no purpose. Fortunately, that is not the case! Praise God we are not of the world, even as He (Christ) is not of the world. We sure have a hope in Christ beyond this world after our days on earth have been terminated by death. At the heart of the book of Job comes his ringing affirmation of confidence in this same hope of resurrection: “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”
What a tremendous faith Job had, especially in light of the fact that he was unaware of the conference between God and Satan. Job thought that God brought all the disasters upon him. Faced with death and decay, Job still expected to see God- and he expected to do so in his body! What a glorious hope! It was this hope of resurrection that made the saints of old to courageously and gracefully face and endure persecution in their own days. “And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans… for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:17, 20). “Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wondering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground…others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection” (Heb. 11: 36-38, 35).
The Christians in Thessalonica wondered why many of their fellow believers had die and what would happen to them when Christ returns. Paul, in his assuring words of comfort wanted these believers to understand that death is not the end of the story. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1Thes. 4:13-18).
Because Jesus Christ came back to life, so will all believers. All Christians, including those living when He returns will live with Jesus forever. Therefore, we need not despair when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. God will turn our tragedies to triumph, our poverty to riches, our pain to glory, and our defeat to victory. All believers throughout history will stand reunited in God’s presence, safe and secure. As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the hope of resurrection, so we should comfort and reassure one another with this great hope. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Satan seemed to be ‘victorious’ in the Garden of Eden and at the cross of Jesus. But God turned Satan’s apparent victory into defeat when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Thus death is no longer a source of dread or fear. Christ overcame it, and one day we will also. Death has been defeated, and we have hope beyond the grave! Halleluiah!
But how shall this thing be? “But some men will say, How are the dead raised up?” It is imperative to know the ‘how’ of resurrection so we can appreciate more the Christ IN us. Paul in response to those who wanted to know the mystery of resurrection made them understand that resurrection is brought about by quickening. “…that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die.” To quicken something is to restore life to that thing; to revive it to life or make it become alive. And as far as our resurrection is concerned, Christ is still the principal and primary Agent of our resurrection. “And so it is written, The first Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.” The last Adam refers to Christ. And because Christ rose from the dead, He has become a quickening Spirit; that is a life-giving Spirit. He is the Source of the spiritual life that will result in our resurrection. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8:11). Likewise in 1Cor 15: 22-23, twice the passage emphasized the Spirit of the indwelling Christ as the Agent of resurrection. Do you have Christ in you? Then there is a hope for you beyond the grave of death because the Christ in you declares, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Because He lives you also will live! Halleluiah!
I can never forget the experience! The Sunday service had been conducted on a low-key level. Though the church is a conservative type, the service that day was in an unusual solemn tone. Officiating ministers served reluctantly as if under a spell, killing the smallest desire of excitement in everyone present for worship. By and by the service ended, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief
that the unusually boring service had eventually come to a close. But before everyone could get up and start heading home, the pastor came up again for another address: “Just before we go, shall we turn our bibles to the first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Thessalonians, chapter four, reading from verse thirteen…” It was then that people began to suspect that something bad must have happened. Of a truth, something very bad and painful had actually happened! After the reading, the pastor announced the death of a member, a dynamic and dearly beloved brother in the fellowship who slummed down four days before while playing football with some little boys and was immediately rushed to the hospital thereafter… despite all medical treatment, the brother eventually bowed out to the chilling hands of death!
that the unusually boring service had eventually come to a close. But before everyone could get up and start heading home, the pastor came up again for another address: “Just before we go, shall we turn our bibles to the first epistle of Paul the apostle to the Thessalonians, chapter four, reading from verse thirteen…” It was then that people began to suspect that something bad must have happened. Of a truth, something very bad and painful had actually happened! After the reading, the pastor announced the death of a member, a dynamic and dearly beloved brother in the fellowship who slummed down four days before while playing football with some little boys and was immediately rushed to the hospital thereafter… despite all medical treatment, the brother eventually bowed out to the chilling hands of death!
It was a Sad Sunday, a Sunday without sunlight. Tears broke out amidst the people of God. It was a sound of sorrow and sadness in the congregation of the righteous. Like every other person, I left the church venue with a heavy and sorrowful heart. I belonged to the same youth fellowship with the brother. I just managed to get home that day… Oh, what a day that was! The house became dreadful to enter; the whole world suddenly became distasteful. I moved to one corner of the compound where we normally dump refuse, there I sat helplessly as my fountain of tears voluntarily broke on its own accord and that without any restraint! I almost cried blood out of my eyes… Oh, the pain and sorrow of death! Truly, when death has come and taken our loved ones, it naturally fills our eyes with tears, our heart with sorrow; and leaving our homes very lonely and drear! Death! What a deadly, heartless enemy!
I wonder why death doesn’t discriminate; every day, a child, teenager or adult is murdered in the country; people innocently get shot by a stray bullet; committed Christian leaders and workers dying through ghastly road accidents… These deaths have got careless and more unsympathetic! I ask myself and God why good people in life get involved in such tragic deaths, filling our eyes with bitter cry and our heart with deep sorrow. Hnmmmm… For those who have lost a loved one by murder, accident, assassination, sickness, my condolences. It’s indeed a painful experience!
However, death reminds us that life is fragile and that ultimately we’ll all die. Amidst the troubles and worries of everyday life, we often ignore this fact. But times of great tragedy serve to remind us that life is both temporal and fragile. Death comes for us all. And in those moments, we wonder, what will happen when we die? People have opinions. Some believe in reincarnation, others believe that nothing happens. Still others believe that there’s some sort of afterlife that you go if you’re good. But for Christians, we believe that death is not the end of our lives. There is an eventual bodily resurrection from the dead.
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1Cor. 15:12:19).
The bodily resurrection of Christ is the centre of the Christian faith. Because Christ rose from the dead, as He promised, we know that what He said is true and that He is God! The resurrection affirms the truthfulness of Jesus life and words. The resurrection confirms Jesus’ unique authority to say “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Because He rose, He lives and represents us before God. Because He rose and defeated death, we know we also will be raised. Christ resurrection guaranteed both His promise to us and his authority to make that promise. We must take Him for His word and believe.
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Why did Paul say Christian would be miserable if there were only earthly value to Christianity? In Paul’s day, just like today, Christianity often brought persecution, ostracism from family and friends; killings, ridicule, denials, deprivations, imprisonment; and in some cases poverty. Just as Christ had predicted to His followers: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
The world hates Christian because Christian’s values differ from the world’s. Since Christ’s followers don’t cooperate with the world by joining in their sin, they are living accusations against the world’s immorality. The world follows Satan’s agenda, and Satan is the avowed enemy of Jesus and His people. If what Christians believe is a lie, we would be pitif
ul because we would be going through such suffering for no purpose. Fortunately, that is not the case! Praise God we are not of the world, even as He (Christ) is not of the world. We sure have a hope in Christ beyond this world after our days on earth have been terminated by death. At the heart of the book of Job comes his ringing affirmation of confidence in this same hope of resurrection: “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”
ul because we would be going through such suffering for no purpose. Fortunately, that is not the case! Praise God we are not of the world, even as He (Christ) is not of the world. We sure have a hope in Christ beyond this world after our days on earth have been terminated by death. At the heart of the book of Job comes his ringing affirmation of confidence in this same hope of resurrection: “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”
What a tremendous faith Job had, especially in light of the fact that he was unaware of the conference between God and Satan. Job thought that God brought all the disasters upon him. Faced with death and decay, Job still expected to see God- and he expected to do so in his body! What a glorious hope! It was this hope of resurrection that made the saints of old to courageously and gracefully face and endure persecution in their own days. “And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans… for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:17, 20). “Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wondering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground…others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection” (Heb. 11: 36-38, 35).
The Christians in Thessalonica wondered why many of their fellow believers had die and what would happen to them when Christ returns. Paul, in his assuring words of comfort wanted these believers to understand that death is not the end of the story. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1Thes. 4:13-18).
Because Jesus Christ came back to life, so will all believers. All Christians, including those living when He returns will live with Jesus forever. Therefore, we need not despair when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. God will turn our tragedies to triumph, our poverty to riches, our pain to glory, and our defeat to victory. All believers throughout history will stand reunited in God’s presence, safe and secure. As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the hope of resurrection, so we should comfort and reassure one another with this great hope. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Satan seemed to be ‘victorious’ in the Garden of Eden and at the cross of Jesus. But God turned Satan’s apparent victory into defeat when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Thus death is no longer a source of dread or fear. Christ overcame it, and one day we will also. Death has been defeated, and we have hope beyond the grave! Halleluiah!
But how shall this thing be? “But some men will say, How are the dead raised up?” It is imperative to know the ‘how’ of resurrection so we can appreciate more the Christ IN us. Paul in response to those who wanted to know the mystery of resurrection made them understand that resurrection is brought about by quickening. “…that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die.” To quicken something is to restore life to that thing; to revive it to life or make it become alive. And as far as our resurrection is concerned, Christ is still the principal and primary Agent of our resurrection. “And so it is written, The first Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.” The last Adam refers to Christ. And because Christ rose from the dead, He has become a quickening Spirit; that is a life-giving Spirit. He is the Source of the spiritual life that will result in our resurrection. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8:11). Likewise in 1Cor 15: 22-23, twice the passage emphasized the Spirit of the indwelling Christ as the Agent of resurrection. Do you have Christ in you? Then there is a hope for you beyond the grave of death because the Christ in you declares, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Because He lives you also will live! Halleluiah!
Christ In You, The Hope of Resurrection!