Life after death is a topic that all Christians should think of often. In fact, it is a discussion that all living beings need to engage with regularly in their life in order to live this life in its fullest capacity. A pursuit of materialism is shallow and limited at best, futile at worst. It is the joy of the resurrection that one finds reason to draw nearer to God Himself. Harry Blamires, in his eminent publication, The Christian Mind, stated, “Do we as Christian mentally inhabit the world presented to us by faith as the real world?” In other words, have we gotten so pulled down to this earth that we seldom visit the spiritual? The Apostle Paul spoke often of that life to come:
The resurrection is reason to live differently (Rom. 6:5-14) —
In this discussion, Paul highlights how our old body was crucified, just like Jesus’. It is through that crucifixion that a new self begins its walk, living with an expectation of a different world. We are regularly reminded of God’s judgement and how that reality bears an incredible obligation on our end to live righteously. However, our means of living godly lives should not cease at fear of judgment. We ought to be people who embrace a new life as a product of having been given a second chance at paradise.
The resurrection is worth investing in (1 Cor. 15:42) —
As Paul logically reasons through the Christian faith and the impact it has on the church, he briefly touches on the topic of the resurrection. He notes that it is the resurrection in which we base all of our livelihood around; that if Christ was never raised from the dead, “We of all people are to be pitied.” He walks through that discussion to eventually arrive at the conclusion: “What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.” Jesus revolutionized the standard on which real life has its value. We would be foolish to put our hope in anything or anyone else. Especially self.
The resurrection is capable of encouragement (1 Thess. 4:18) —
As Paul reveals what is to take place at the coming of Christ, he goes into great detail of what that day will look like, sound like, and even feel like. The sight of Jesus descending from the heavens will be a devastating vision for some and a joyous occasion for others. Paul favored the latter of the two options. Moreover, he expressed his desire for the church to talk to each other and encourage each other about these things.
The resurrection is a pursuit to be chased (Phil. 3:11) —
“By any means possible” was the extent that Paul was willing to go in order to make the resurrection his own. What are the entities or desires in your life that you would pursue “by any means possible?” I can only think of a handful. This pursuit of receiving eternal life was chief on the priority list for Paul. In fact, earlier in the letter of Philippians he expressed his dilemma of staying on this earth to work with the Christians or leaving it behind to be with Christ (1:23).
Tyler King
