Because He Lives
By Jim MacIntosh

Hope in the end

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable, but now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept". 1 Corinthians 15:19-20

Communists used to make fun of Christians by saying that all they had was after this life. One of their so-called poets, Joe Hill, had a famous mocking line, "Work and pray, live on hay, you'll get pie in the sky when you die".

Poor Joe Hill didn't have much for a reference point; an execution squad shot him for a murder he probably didn't commit when he wouldn't use the alibi of being with another man's wife at the time of the murder. Sadly, much of the world shares Joe Hill's belief that the Christian is missing out on all that is good in this life, and will probably miss out in the next. How very wrong they are on both counts. Paul reminds us in today's text that because of the resurrection, Christians have the best prospects for time and for eternity.

The most important element in life is hope, and it is part of our reason for being at all stages of life. Teenagers hope for a driver's license and a nice car, and for a glamorous girlfriend/boyfriend. Students hope for a great job and a fulfilling life. Young people hope for the best for their families and careers; middle aged people hope for a great time in retirement; retired people hope for good health as long as possible; and those in poor health hope the doctors find a cure. We need hope, it's what gives us a reason for living, for looking forward to tomorrow and next year. That's the way humanity is built. Without hope, we die.

Do we have hope today as we remember the One who died to give us assurance of hope? The certain and glorious hope of eternal salvation is rooted and founded in nothing more and nothing less than the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ.

Our remembrance of the Lord on His day causes us to look backward to Calvary. We remember how much He suffered, how much He paid, how much He loved, to rescue poor sinners from eternal perdition. We remember His death. But we also remember His resurrection. Because He died, we have no fear of hell. Because He lives, we have assurance of Heaven.

Without the resurrection, we would be miserable. But we rejoice today, because He lives. And we will live forever with Him.

“Other men see only a hopeless end, but the Christian rejoices in an endless hope.” ~ Gilbert M. Beeken

Jim MacIntosh is a former broadcast journalist and technical writer who has been writing daily devotional messages for www.assemblyline.ca for several years.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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