Does the question of whether one really will come to life again once placed in a coffin ever traipse through your mind? Like, often? I wonder about it. I believe it, really. But there are those times I say to myself, What if this idea just isn't real? What if we die and everything is blank? Nothing?
So for any of you who are like me, let's examine why our faith would continually make the trek back to believing there really will be a resurrection from the cemetery experience.
First, God said it. In our multiple incidents of our faith walking right into the God-moves of ordinary life, why would we question this promise? One reason might be that this one is the big one. Our continuation throughout eternity is dependent upon this faith element being accurate. We cannot afford to have been fooled.
Second, consider the nature of God's creation. Seeds that die sprout; and they don't sprout until they have died. Corn on the cob never becomes such until Mr. Kernel hits the dirt...and dies. And ask Miss Flower Blossom. Same story. Bulb dies. Flower resurrects.
And then third, I toss an observation your way which I consider ultra important. I address the fact of giving. Giving is a pre-death, belief in something-comes-from-nothing, test. Take inventory of the givers around you. These live abundant lives; not because they are frugal; but because they are blessed by the uncanny grace of God.
I speak of giving away of money. Although time and other possessions may surely be contributed, it is money and what it could have bought that is the litmus test in giving...Mt. 6:24 God or riches. Earth power is money. Heaven power is grace. We are called to be willing to swap one for the other.
II Corinthians 9:6-15 is one of the greatest calls to trust God's resurrection promise. Verse 6 is about sowing; buried seed that will die with anticipation of arising into a glorious crop. Giving is a huge test to whether one believes the resurrection. It challenges us ahead of the grave to see if we can release with faith-confidence that God will supply new and unexplainable provision.
God's grace while we walk on earth--His abounding, all sufficient, abundant provision--verifies that even when the earthy body passes away, there will be a new kind of body arise.
Sowing and raising. Sowing and raising. Sown one thing. Raised abundantly more and newer another thing. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, It is raised an imperishable body, it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body (I Cor. 15:42-44).
Honestly. Will there be another life past the grave? Yes. An exciting element of truth is that we are to experience verification of such before we die. From our (1) believing what God said, (2) reviewing God's creative nature, and (3) noticing how blessed those are who give deeply of the funds they could have otherwise depended upon, it seems clear that in each of these three that visible results are noted.
I urge you not to believe in God and go through religious motions just in case all of this stuff is true. Rather, be urgent about surrendering to God and His style for it really is a true and workable kingdom system He operates....now.
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