Living in the Light of Eternity

Two sermons I’ve heard recently have struck a chord with me. There’s nothing new or spectacular about either one, but taken together, they remind me of some basic truth about living for Christ. I have borrowed the title of this article from last weekend’s message at the church we attend here at home. Using the first few verses of 1 Thessalonians, the pastor reminded us that our love and faith and hope are predicated on our belief that our lives on earth are only the prelude to the real life we will spend in eternity. We can spend ourselves in selfless love for others because we believe the Word that assures us of a certain hope for eternity.

Nothing new there. But I was reminded of the message we heard from the church our daughter and son-in-law attend back in Michigan. (We are Internet “members.”) The pastor, Joel, has been teaching from 1 Corinthians and is now in the fifteenth chapter—the chapter where Paul makes his strongest case for the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul told the Corinthians that denial of the bodily resurrection of Jesus puts the lie to everything else about their beliefs. “But if Christ has not been raised,” Paul says, “then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.” The Greek word for vain means empty, without effect or result, useless.

So, because the Corinthians faith is useless without the resurrection of Jesus, their hope is therefore false hope. Paul continues, “If we have put our hope in Christ in this life only, we are of all people most pitiable.” Indeed, what a pity if we are denying ourselves earthly pleasures in order to follow the tenets of a faith that is emptied of all power. Paul continues his argument: “If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” The resurrection of Jesus not only validated His Messiahship, but it also guaranteed the resurrection of all His followers.

Paul again: “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Pastor Joel made a connection that I had not considered before. The concept of first fruits comes from the Old Testament commandment to offer the first of your crop to God. The Festival of First Fruits was held on the first Sunday after the Sabbath of Passover week. Oh my! What a coincidence! Jesus was sacrificed during the week of Passover and rose on the day of First Fruits. Pastor Joel called Jesus’ resurrection the ticket to our resurrection. He paid the fare. The only reason we have the right to ride the Heavenly Train is because the resurrection of Jesus made it possible.

In the eighth chapter of Romans – my favorite chapter in Paul’s most important letter – Paul says that believers “groan” with all creation waiting for the revelation of the sons of God. “For we know that the whole creation groans together and suffers agony together until now. Not only this, but we ourselves also, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves while we await eagerly our adoption, the redemption of our body.” That “adoption,” that “redemption of our body” is another way of talking about our resurrection. We are destined for a bodily resurrection onto the new Earth to spend eternity in the presence of God.

I will admit (shamefully), I often live as if this life was of primary importance. Is my Social Security benefit secure? Can I keep up with my bills? Will my old cars keep running? How long before my roof starts to leak? What’s on TV tonight? What’s for supper? I spend a substantial amount of my waking hours thinking about such things. That’s natural, right? Then I remember that believers aren’t supposed to be natural; we are supposed to be supernatural, spirit led, God-trusters.

The minute I start to worry about things of earth, I have fallen into sin. Shocked? Worry is sin because it betrays a lack of faith, and anything done without faith is sin. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” What “things” was He referring to? Earthly things: food, clothing, shelter. The Father knows you need those things, and He’s got you covered.

Seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness is just another way of saying what Paul said to the Colossians: set your mind on things above (eternal things)… where your life is hidden with Christ in God” I’ve heard it said that some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. I doubt there are many people who really have that problem; most of us suffer from just the opposite: we are so earthly minded we are no heavenly good. We need to live every moment in the light of eternity because if you are a believer, you already have one foot planted in eternity. Which foot are you going to put your weight on?

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