For if only in this present life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 19 -20)
And I want to say Amen and Hallelujah to that.
The evening before Jesus died, He made an assuring statements captured for us by one of the faithful disciples. One of the statement was a promise to His followers, that He is on the way to the Father's dwelling place, to prepare a place for them, and when it is done, He will come back for them ( John 14:1 -3). The second was a request made to the Father in prayer for the people who have believed in Him, that they will be with Him, so that where He is, they will be with Him and behold His glory, power and kingdom (John 17: 24).
In this light, when Jesus rose from the dead, He folded the cloth that was used to wrapped His head (John 20: 7). We are told that it has to do with Jewish dining table etiquette and courtesy. When the master is eating and folds the napkin and get out of the table, it indicates he is not finish yet, he is coming back. So Jesus folded that cloth which covered His face to tell us that we shall see His face again, for He is coming back.
On the basis of that, Apostle Paul unfolds some truth that has to do with the Jewish ordinance of firstfruits. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterwards those who are Christ's at His coming (1 Cor 15: 22 -23). We die because we are Adam's descendants and death is our appointment in this present life (Heb 9: 27), But Christ died to become the firstfruit (that is, the first man to die and rise to live forever) so that after Him will come the main harvests (that is, those who have died in Christ). For this cause Paul affirmed to us all that "Our citizenship is in Heaven, from there we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Christ (Phil 3: 20). So know and understand that we celebrate Easter because Jesus is coming back. Paul said, as we do this, we show forth the Lord's death till He comes back for us. Hallelujah. So our faith in Christ is founded on truths. Our hope in Christ goes beyond life in this present age and in this present world, which is full of troubles, full of evil, full of corruption, violence and greediness. We are not pitiable, though we may seem to be so. My Saviour and your Saviour died, and rose again from the dead and is coming back for us to see His glory. Hallelujah.
My question to you is: Are you waiting for His coming? Are you ready for His coming? And will you be part of those He is going to take with Him to His Father's dwelling place?
Remember, Scripture says, the trumpet of God will sound, and in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the dead shall be raised to life, and those living will be changed into incorruptible, immoral beings and shall be caught up in the sky to meet the Lord (1 Cor 15: 51 -53). Oh what a joy that would be! Oh what a day that would be! And what a shock that would be to some people. But the choice is yours!
My prayer for you is that you would turn this would be shock to a glorious joy by choosing Jesus and living your life in expectation for the promise of His coming, and by His grace, you will not miss it in Jesus name.
May this promise become your desire and hope and may your faith find rest in the Lord's power to fulfill what He has promised His people. And may the Lord count you among His raptured people that day. Amen
Shalom, life and grace to you
Moving people onto God's purposes
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