Christ's Resurrection Changes Everything!

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. – 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

How would your life today be different if you were not a follower of Christ? Will your life be significantly different, in terms of your character, value systems, routine, and perception of life? Or would it be almost the same, minus the church attending on Sunday?

One of the biggest turn offs for non-Christians is seeing the hypocrisy in lives of Christians. So-called believers in Christ will say one thing but will do something that’s very contradictory. In events when life beckons our biblical reaction, such as, loss of: loved ones through death, financial properties through bad business factors, friends through betrayal, and own health through terminal or debilitating diseases, do we continue to proclaim in our words and deeds the peace of God that transcends understanding? Or do we panic, grumble, complain and murmur like everyone else? As Christian parents, do we prepare our children as though everything depends on their performance in education, or do we teach them about depending on God?

Paul in the passage above says that if the way we live our lives on earth is as though it’s the only one we have, then we are the most pitiful of all people. This means that if the hope of heaven is not real, then we should just enjoy all of life’s pleasure now because at the end, there’s nothing else. However, if the hope of heaven is real in our hearts, then the things on earth no longer become attractive because no matter how good it is, it can never compare with what we will have in heaven. This is the main reason why Paul declares over and over again, that to live is Christ, and to die gain. Why gain? Because he gets Christ in the fullness of His deity, being able to reign by His side for eternity.

I pray that God will enlighten your heart to His glory, and open the eyes of your heart so that you can truly see the riches we have in Christ Jesus.