Fullness of Life for Eternity

We seldom pause to reflect on our future life as Christians—on “what is to come” when we are no longer physically on this earth. The Word of God affirms that when Christ returns—with judgment in between—we will rise with Him, with incorruptible souls and bodies. No other religion makes such a promise.

The doctrine of true resurrection is established with Christ. The empty tomb remains the unassailable foundation on which Christianity stands, the stronghold of our faith. Without faith in the resurrection, Christianity would have no meaning.

As Christians, it is almost natural to think about the here and now, but our hope is in Christ. The eternal life promised to Christians rests on faith in the resurrection of our Lord. “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he is dead, will live” (John 11:25). The wonder of the resurrection surpasses the understanding of the human mind. By rising from the dead, Christ made us, when we place our faith in Him, partakers of such a nature that even now we can be certain of a life of complete fullness in His presence for all eternity.

The fullness of life in the here and now is lived by faith. The spiritual dimension of eternity began the day we decided to believe in Jesus and place our trust in Him. Since the first century, the resurrection of our Lord has been the target of the worst attacks on Christianity, and it remains so today. When He foretold His resurrection on the third day after His death, His disciples scarcely believed Him. Only after seeing Him risen did they understand, and from then on the resurrection became the cornerstone of their preaching. Paul told the Corinthians: “And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain” (1 Cor. 15:14). And in his second letter to these brothers and sisters he added: “For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with him and bring us, together with you, into his presence” (2 Cor. 4:14).

Passion Week encourages us to celebrate that hope, to reflect on the sacrifice of our Lord, and to give thanks for the promise of eternal life. It is not a hope for this life alone (1 Cor. 15:19), but for the life to come. Christ “was delivered up for our transgressions and raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). God made us righteous by raising His Son so that we may rejoice in the hope of His glory (Rom. 5:2).

Let us celebrate Christ! He lives! The nails of His martyrdom could not contain His glory. From the wood, laurel and olive leaves continue to sprout to crown the head of the Lord of the church and of our lives. The emptiness of His tomb—until the day we see Him face to face—is and will remain the fullness of our hearts.

God bless you!