In so many ways, it is mind numbingly difficult to be positive these days. The news and social media are jammed full of a seemingly infinite number of reasons for us to be stressed, angry, and depressed. From the pandemic, to natural disasters (e.g. Haiti), and social violence and turbulence (e.g. Afghanistan) there is no shortage of problems staring us down day after trying day. It is no wonder so many people I know are chronically stressed, angry, and depressed. There are so many reasons for us to feel these negative emotions, and seemingly few reasons to be hopeful.
I’ll be honest, if it wasn’t for my faith in Christ Jesus I am not sure how I would be standing. Yet, because of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, I know that whatever happens an eternal life with God awaits me. This is the case for ALL of us that have confessed our sins and confessed Jesus as our savior. Yet, do we really even begin to comprehend the gift of eternal life? Checkout this passage below and, if you have time, checkout the full passage (1 Corinthians 15).Here Paul gives us a taste of what awaits us:
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:22-28
See, I think we too often miss the sheer awesomeness of the gift of eternal life we’ve been given. We fail to embrace the hope we have in Christ Jesus. God’s plan is for us to be in His presence in Heaven until that day when ALL believers are resurrected and returned to a perfected earth. Just think about that. God has promised to resurrect us all in perfect bodies to live forever in a world He has perfected. No matter what happens today or tomorrow that is going to happen. How do we know it’s even possible? Because Christ was resurrected from the dead, overcoming sin and death and being the “first fruits” of this perfect world. My friends, a perfect body, a perfect eternity, and a perfect world are coming. May we forever embrace this perfect hope no matter what the world throws before us.
