1 Corinthians 15:12-44

  "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."

{1 Corinthians 15:19} (NIV1984)

Only one life, twill soon be past;

Only what’s done for Christ, will last.

(CT Studd missionary)

We are only given this life. We have to live it, and it takes energy, money, stamina, everything we have. Yet it is only preparation for the life to come. The message of the gospel is radical, “Give away your life now - gain the eternal life to come.” Paul tells us, that if our hope is in this life, if we are looking for the “good” life now, we are to be pitied. Our Lord came to suffer and to die, looking forward to His resurrection. So we are to live this life, looking forward to our resurrection. There is a life where our work is not toil, where our efforts will not be vain, where death will never visit! This life is on the new earth, it is the resurrected life, the life in the renewed creation. 

Friend, I pray for God’s blessing now, in my life, in my family’s life, in our church’s life. God does hear, and God does bless us as we live our lives now! But friend, many of our prayers will be answered in the great work God will do on resurrection day, and in the renewing of creation. The apostle says, “this is the Christian’s hope!” May this be our hope! May we live our lives ‘laying up treasures’ for that great and glorious resurrection day!

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