THE VERSE
If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.~1 Corinthians 15:19
THE THOUGHT
If someone asked you, “If at the end of your life it turns out that Christianity is a lie and there is no God, would your life have been a waste?” how would you respond? Many people would say, “No, it wouldn’t have been a waste, because a life invested in serving other people and pursuing peace is worth it even if there is no heaven.” That kind of answer makes sense, and there is some truth in it, but I suspect that the apostle Paul would answer differently. In fact, his answer would look something like 1 Corinthians 15:19.There definitely is a real reward in the here and now in living for others, but the Christian life as set forth in Scripture is about a lot more than that. The real Christian life is a life firmly rooted in eternity, and in the eternal promises of God. The hope of heaven is the motivation that the Bible holds out for all of our deeds of sacrificial love. The life that Jesus calls His followers to is too costly, too hard, to ever pay back for itself in this life. Loving those who hate you is too painful, serving without recognition is too draining, leaving home and family to preach the gospel to the nations is too hard, standing up for your faith is too humiliating, and dying for Jesus is too costly, to ever be founded upon merely temporal promises. Without the hope of heaven, the Christian life as it is meant to be lived truly is foolish. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ and lived the life He calls us to, then we really are of all people most to be pitied.
But we haven’t hoped in Christ only in this life. There are banks beyond earth, there is treasure in heaven. We can take up our cross, knowing that those who lose their lives for Christ will find their lives forever. We can accept the plundering of our possessions with joy, knowing that our heavenly possession is real and ours eternally. We can, with Jesus, fix our eyes on the joy set before us and find there all the strength we need to bear our crosses and make Jesus known.
THE PRAYER
God, Help me to look to eternity for all the resources I need to serve You today. Thank you for Your indescribably great promises that give me everything I need for life and godliness. Help me to trust You and to live my life with abandon for the fame of Jesus Christ.EXTENDED READING
1 Corinthians 15:14-26Hebrews 10:32-36
2 Peter 1:3-4
Mark 8:34-36
THE QUOTE
"Abiding in Jesus is nothing but the giving up of oneself to be ruled and taught and led, and so resting in the arms of Everlasting Love." ~Andrew Murray
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