Jump Start # 1829

1 Corinthians 15:19 “If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most to be pitied.”

The 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians is THE resurrection chapter of the Bible. There we find proof that Jesus was raised. The bridge between the resurrection of Jesus and our resurrection is identified. Questions about what we will be like when we are resurrected are answered. And the reasons for our resurrection are identified. Logic and consequences of not having a resurrection are cited. Powerful stuff. Death isn’t the end. Satan is defeated. The victory belongs to God.

Swirling around in the midst of these powerful arguments is the statement that “some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” The “among you,” would be Christians at Corinth. How could a Christian not believe in the resurrection? Without a coming resurrection, what’s the point? If this is it, then where is God in all of this? These “among you” who do not believe in the resurrection are most likely the “bad company” or “evil companions” of vs. 33, that corrupt good morals. Too often, we think vs. 33 is written for our teens. We use it to talk about peer pressure. We envision some wild kid down the street who races his motorcycle up and down the block, looks rough, talks rough, and is headed for trouble. This verse is pulled out and used as an Ace card to kill any relationship with that kid. Problem is, that thinking doesn’t fit the context. Top to bottom, Paul is addressing resurrection. The bad company or evil companion that corrupts good morals is a fellow Christian who does not believe in the resurrection. Paul is trying to put some distance between believers and those who deny a resurrection. They are going to mess you up. Without a resurrection, the faith is pulled out from under us. If we are not raised, then Jesus was not raised. If Jesus WAS raised, so will we.

This is where our verse comes in. What is the point of our faith if we only believe in this life? So, we become nice people who help others and obey the law. So what? Our faith transcends more than THIS life. It takes us to the NEXT life. Our hope is not here, but there. We hope for forgiveness. Why, if this is it? We hope for eternal life with God. We hope to be in Heaven. Our choices we make today, are based upon that hope we have for tomorrow. The Christian sees beyond the present. He is looking beyond the horizon. This is why we find statements such as: Set you mind on things above; keep seeking the things above; our citizenship is in Heaven. We have an “above” mentality and vision that affects our life down here. To be there some day, we have to walk accordingly down here. It doesn’t work to live like a sinner and die like a saint. That stuff is made for the movies. God’s people are seeking, striving, thinking, living and hoping for things in the NEXT life. We say “no,” to things, because it is not only terrible for us here, it will affect us in the NEXT life. We follow Christ and stay close to the word, because it is good for us here and it will affect us in the NEXT life.

If we only hope in Christ in this life, we are to be most pitied, our verse says. What’s the point if there is no “Next life?” And, yet, is this not where many have placed themselves? They live good, decent lives. They are honest. They are faithful to their mates. They are great parents. They are good citizens. They have a kind heart. They watch what they say. There are many folks who are demonstrating the characteristics of Christian character, but they don’t have Christ. They do these things, not because the Bible tells them, but because they feel these are the best choices. Yet, without Christ and without faith, and without fundamental Biblical teachings, their hope is here. So many of these good people do not worship. So many do not pour themselves into the word of God. They have made right moral choices because this is the way that they were raised or they have seen the ugliness of living the other way. Maybe they have come from homes where a parent was a drunk. That convinced them to steer clear of drinking. Not because the Bible teaches this, but because of a personal experience. Maybe they came from a broken home and they felt the pain of parents who divorced. So, they stayed committed, not because God wants that, but because they didn’t want their own kids to go through a broken home. Living well, but without God. Decent, without a resurrection. Where is this going to take them? For most, they assume Heaven because “good people go to Heaven.” That’s the message of Satan. Just be good, whatever that means. No church. No Bible. No faith. No following Christ. Just be good and you’ll get there.

Yet, all through the N.T., good people needed Christ. Cornelius was a great man. Yet, he needed Christ. Lydia was good. The Ethiopian was good. They all came to Christ for forgiveness, hope and a promise for the NEXT LIFE.

We do what we do because it’s right. It’s right because of Christ. We do what we do because it does lead to a good life here. And we do what we do because of the NEXT LIFE. We have a hope for the next life. Our hope is not in crossed fingers, and four leaf clovers, but in the promises of God. When God promises, it will be. That’s our hope. We can know that we are Heaven bound because of the promises of Christ.

For more than twenty-five years, I have published a weekly church bulletin that I’ve entitled, “Heaven Bound.” I fell in love with that expression decades ago. That sums up our hope, our choices, and our faith. We are “Heaven Bound.” Our hope is not just in this life. Our hope is in Heaven. It is not uncommon to hear someone say in an airport, “Where are you off to?” We could say that among ourselves. Where are we off to? We are off to Heaven. We are Heaven Bound!

The resurrection of Christ puts an exclamation point to all of this. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s not a dream that we hope comes true. It is true. We know this because of Jesus. He was raised. We will be raised. He’s in Heaven and someday we will be with Him.

What a glorious day that will be!

Roger