Resurrection

If I may, I'd like to open up a truth that is so relevant and so amazing that sometimes I don't understand why we all aren't talking about it way more often. Especially this time of year. And that truth is resurrection. That for those God has chosen and for those who put their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they will never die. Think about that for a second and let your mind implode. If you are in Jesus Christ, you will never die. Oh, sure, you will die; as this world understands death, and because of sin and, in turn, physical reality, our bodies will fail. But that death will not have victory. That is a big deal. Next time you order Starbucks, or go to a football game, or watch CNN, or listen to your iPod, or go to the gym, or attend a funeral, think about that. Eternal. Life.

Now, unfortunately this will not be a theological description about the nature and reality of resurrection and what the Bible teaches about it and what specifically it looks like or how it works. This will not be an exposition of 1 Corinthians 15, for example. Although such theological explanation and biblical exposition is not only important, but also awesome, and perhaps one day, God willing, I will be more able to give such instruction (or at least link you to those who are). Until then, this is a humble attempt to give a mixed up and hurting culture eternal hope.

And lest we misunderstand Christian teaching and the Bible to say that eternal life is an unending church service with out-of-key organ music and monotonous readings, consider this: Everything you've ever enjoyed, appreciated, honored, sought, loved, desired, or embraced in your whole life whether it be family, friends, status, wealth, materialism - is summed up, surpassed, and sanctified in the Person of Jesus Christ. And eternal life is an eternity of ever-increasing joy in Him. It will take that long (forever) to experience the inexhaustible glory that is in Christ. I hope that gets you excited. And I hope it gives you a perspective in life of courageous, faithful, sacrificial service and love that understands that to live is Christ, and to die is gain; and understands even in the most unthinkable suffering that there is always hope; profound hope.

If not, I don't know what to say to you. If it were up to me, the Church would talk more unashamedly about the truth and absolute dependence of the Resurrection on the whole shebang. If the Resurrection didn't happen, than Christianity is meaningless, the Gospel we proclaim doesn't make any sense, and there is no Word of consolation or hope that I can offer to any person who experiences suffering or loss. And that would be devastating. But it did happen, and the evidence is overwhelming.

So let us not just think about, or talk about, Resurrection at Easter, when we celebrate the Risen Christ. We must do that! But let's also so implant our minds and lives with the reality of eternal life, all the time, so that death and suffering and futility look more like what they are: light and momentary. And not in vain.