“If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the firstfruits of a great harvest of all who have died.” 1 Cor. 15:19-20
Jesus, I love the honesty and no-spin reality of the Scriptures. In these two verses, Paul is basically saying, if knowing you in this 70-to-80ish-years-of-life is all there is, we aren’t to be content and grateful, but greatly pitied. Why?
Because it would mean you lied to us about preparing a place for us. It would mean you didn’t really come back from the dead after your crucifixion. It would mean we are still in our sins. It would mean the Christian life is nothing more than choosing you as a great hero, moral model, and inspiring example to follow while we wait for death…. and nothing more. It would mean all the crazy, meanness, and contempt of our world is finally going to win.
But, hallelujah, you were raised from the dead! Far from being the most to be pitied, we are the most to be envied. You are the firstfruits and guarantee—not only of our life beyond the grave, but also of our coming life in “the new heaven and new earth” (Rev. 21:1-22:5)—the fullness-and-forever of everything the Bible promises about “heaven.”
Because you were raised from the dead, we have great hope right now—a hope that empowers us to live and love to your glory where you have placed us. Every molecule in the cosmos, and every moment of every clock and calendar, is yours, Jesus. This earth will be filled with your glory. You are making all things new. Hallelujah, and So Very Amen.