05/10/2019
You woke up this morning from a night’s slumber, which is a form of mini-death, and found yourself once again breathing, eating, and going about your day. Did you jump out of bed in surprise and shout with joy, or did you expect that to happen? Did you routinely yawn, wipe the sleep out of your eyes, and stumble mute towards that first cup of coffee, or did you lift up your arms and say “Thank you Father for this day!”? If this is our earthly morning, how will it be when you awaken to Jesus Christ and Heaven on that first resurrected morning?
“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.”
1 Corinthians 15:14-15 ESV
Like most men, I dread going to the doctor, and will endure whatever ails me until I can stand it no more. I am not particularly proud of this... it’s just our nature. This was the case recently as I suffered with a case of Prostatitis, which is painful, and presents itself as an intensely constant feeling of needing to urinate. Ladies, this is much like a urinary tract infection, and many of you know the misery of that!
So I finally could stand it no more, called my doctor, and went to see him. I was embarrassed when he asked me how long it had been going on, but I swallowed my pride and said... a little over a month. At this he gave me one of those stern looks of condescension and then went about the business of diagnosing my condition and prescribing medication to heal it. I must tell you that I rushed immediately to the pharmacy to fill it, and took the first dose at once! I hoped beyond hope that this would heal me. The next morning I awoke, and as I sat on the side of the bed thanking the Lord for this day it quickly struck me that the pain and intense sensation was gone... I can’t tell you how overjoyed I was!
Then, as I walked towards the kitchen, a couple of thoughts struck me... the first was that I wished I had gone to the doctor sooner, and the second was that if this relief felt so good then what will it feel like to awaken in heaven without the nagging pain of life, and the suffering discomfort of sin?
“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.”
1 Corinthians 15:42-43 ESV
We don’t get up each morning surprised by the fact that we have another day to live; we pretty much take it for granted that we shall. We get out of bed expecting to pick up with our life at just about the place where we left it the night before. If we hurt then we expect to once again feel the pain; if we were happy then we whistle on our way to the kitchen, and if we went to bed anticipating some happening then we expect it to occur. Jesus gives us a similar feeling regarding our faith... we trust that by His death, resurrection, and ascension, that we too will join Him in these... this is His promise. In this way, similar to how I awoke from my night’s sleep to find myself relieved of the physical pain of prostatitis, we will rise to a resurrected body... and the joy of a life free of sin, pain, and suffering will overwhelm us! Although this is the promise Jesus Christ teaches us to expect, we will nonetheless be thrilled in it!
Jesus died, and was resurrected, and we have faith in this, but what if that were not true? What could we expect to awaken to then? In fact there would be nothing but a yawning, and a slow walk to our first cup of coffee without the expectant joy and hope. Without the sacrifice of Jesus we are heirs and joint heirs in nothing. We are expectant in death because we will rise as Jesus did, but if that promise is not true then none of the biblical promises are... if Jesus didn’t suffer and die for us, then only the darkness of an empty death awaits us.
“For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
1 Corinthians 15:16-17 ESV
If the resurrection is false, and If we have deluded ourselves into believing a lie, then we are in a sad state indeed...
“Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
1 Corinthians 15:18-19 ESV
But this is not the case, and Jesus has risen. His promise is true, our resurrection is imminent, and each day we anticipate His return. Each morning we awaken, lift up our faces towards Heaven, and thank God for not just another day on earth, but for our hope, and anticipation, of Christ’s return!
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-21 ESV
Today is indeed the day that the Lord has made, and as our feet lift us from our beds we will rejoice in it! Will this be the day when at long last we will know what it is like to awaken without sin, pain, and suffering... in the presence of the Lord?
“This is the Lord 's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.”
Psalms 118:23-26 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for this day and every blessing that you have waiting for me in it! I thank you for your goodness and truth, and I thank you for the hope, promise, and joy I have in your Son Jesus Christ! Thank you Holy Father for the death, resurrection, and ascension of your Son, and for the truth of His promise that I too will rise, and join Him before you. Oh how I long for the day when I will awaken in your presence, and feel the glorious relief from sin and suffering! I long to see the face of my Savior, and to relish in my resurrected body! I long to sit at your table, and dine with you in eternity. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who is just and true; who loves me enough to have sacrificed your only begotten Son that I might be redeemed, resurrected, and united with you forevermore at your table. Praised be your name for this day, and my hope in it. All glory stands at the ready, and legions of Angels are poised to sing your praises. On that morning when your promise in Christ is fulfilled, and of our glorious awakening, we will worship you Joyously without end.
Rich Forbes