May 19 | 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Pastor Dave Mann
2 days ago
2 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

The Resurrection of the Dead

By Dave Mann

Even though several religions profess the immortality of the soul, there is none other than

Christianity, as far as I know, that proclaims the resurrection of the dead. In the Apostles’ Creed, we announce boldly, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.” Because Jesus rose from the dead, we too shall rise to enter the presence of our holy God. 2 Corinthians 4:14 -- because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.

There are many, Christian or not, who believe the deceased person can do in the afterlife forever what they liked doing here on earth – playing golf, fishing, eating, seeing predeceased loved ones, etc. But according to many passages of the Bible, including 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, the goal that we followers of Jesus have is not our own self-centered pleasure but rather the glory of God and living in the presence of God in Christ.

The goal of life on this earth is not to be able to do what we personally find enjoyable, but rather to live forever in God's presence. Christ will be our judge. How do we prepare to be in the presence of Christ, our righteous judge? It is to be made righteous in his sight, through faith.

Our goal is not to find personal enjoyment forever – this is a narcissistic goal. But we long to live forever in the presence of our holy God. Our goal is to live in the presence of our Lord Jesus forever because we will be like him.

1 John 3:2 – But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Rom 8:29 – Our goal is “to be conformed to the image of his Son.”

Whose idea was it that we sinful human beings might be made righteous somehow so that we could live forever in his presence? It is God’s plan. “Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God” (2 Corinthians 5:5). We followers of Jesus are also called to adopt God’s plan to be ours as well, whether we live on earth for the moment, or we live with him forever in heaven. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

PRAYER

Today, please join me in musical prayer, a glorious celebration of the unique belief in the resurrection of the dead with “I Will Rise” (written by Chris Mullin, arranged by Craig Courtney and Lynda Hasseler). Click here to listen and to give God glory for the resurrection of the dead.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.

Daily Worship