Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain…But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep…Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord you labour is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14,20,58)
Have you ever questioned, “What is the point of doing this?” Have you ever had the thought, “Wait, why do I have to work so hard if in the end I’m gonna die? Won’t everything just disappear anyway?”
If you have, you are not alone. Wise King Solomon once said, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3). This question is an important question to tackle. If we will die one day, and all things will pass away, shouldn’t we just have fun and enjoy ourselves the best we can? Paul puts it this way, “If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32). Is that all there is to life? Is that the answer to vanity?
Praise God because in Christ Jesus, a solid answer to the problem of vanity. Christ’s death and resurrection separate Christianity from all other religions. Other religions hope for acceptance in the last days. Our hope is set firm and guaranteed in the death and resurrection of Christ.
If Christ never rose from the dead, then He would be just another good man. We would still be left with the problem of our sins, and God’s wrath would still await us. If Jesus did not rise again, it meant that his death was a failure. It would mean that the power of death and sin won over the power of God. It would mean that Christ was not perfect and that he deserved eternal punishment. If Christ didn’t win over death, God would be a fraud, and there would be no point in following this religion. If Christ didn’t rise from the dead, we should just all go party and have as much fun as we can while this temporary life lasts.
However, Christ did rise from the dead. He appeared to Peter and the twelve disciples. He then also appeared to over five hundred different witnesses. A reporter once set out to debunk this Jesus myth. He asked the top historians and archaeologists to figure out whether Jesus really did rise from the dead. At the end of his investigation, he had to humbly admit that Jesus really did rise from the dead. This man then repented and became a Christian. His tale is recounted in his book, The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.
If Christ rose from the dead in actual fact and reality, that means He rules over the power of death. He has the power and ability to forgive our sins and make us right with God because our sinfulness was crucified and overcome on the cross. Christ’s righteousness was accepted by the Father and imputed onto us. 1 Corinthians 15:27 says, “For God has put all things in subjection under his feet”. Christ, who is King over the universe, offers forgiveness, salvation, and freedom for vanity if you believe and repent. He is fully capable of accomplishing it because He has raised from the dead.
Because Christ rose from the dead, we have been made right with God. It means that we can enjoy a new relationship with God today. It means that God wants to use our lives now to serve and live for Him. And it means that in the last days, we will all be raised in new heavenly bodies. Christ’s resurrection gives us the confidence to live for God now and stand up as His servants. As 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord you labour is not in vain”.
Where is God calling today? Where must we put sin to death? Where must we obey? Let’s follow God’s leading and live for Him.
Lord, thank You for the immovable confidence of our faith in Christ Jesus. Thank You that You really lived, died and resurrected as living proof that You now reign as King over the whole universe. Forgive me when I doubt You. Help my unbelief and grow my faith in You. Burn a fire and zeal to follow You in my heart. May the power of Your resurrection work in me and grow a humble and obedient heart. Help me win over sin, and help me serve You. Thank You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.