Why the Dead Must Rise

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

I Corinthians 15:12-19

 

Death is the enemy’s last stab in the back for humanity. It is the ultimate consequence of the curse that has been in effect on this earth and its inhabitants since the Garden of Eden. Satan loves death because it also kills all the potential for love, knowledge, forgiveness and compassion that person shows to others.

 

The dead must rise again. Life must go on. God’s plans for us cannot be completed in one lifetime. He has many things in mind for us to accomplish for the rest of eternity. His will is “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

 

The only way the curse of sin and death could be lifted was for God to do it by His own hand. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God incarnate, we can all share in the victory that His resurrection brings. Victory in our preaching. Victory in our faith. Victory in our witness and our testimony. Victory over our sins. Victory for our loved ones who have died. Complete and total victory when Jesus returns and restores all things whole.

 

Do not pity us, world, for what you call our illusions. For our life may be short and our death may be tragic, but it is not the end of our story. We know the day is coming when our Lord will gather His sheep, living and dead, and will establish His righteous kingdom that will last forever.