I Gain from the Dead Raised

My faith is based on Christ taking on my sin and paying for it as He was crucified on the cross. And then He was raised from death on the third day to demonstrate His glory and authority over all things, including death. But where would I be if He had not died and been raised from the dead.

“³²What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” – 1 Corinthians 15:32 (ESV)

If Christ had not died and rose again, then all that I do in this world is futile and I should just continue on with it as when I die, I die.

You see, I believe that thanks to the death and resurrection of Christ, I will be rise again after my death in this world. No, not to walk again among man, but to walk with Christ in the heavenly kingdom promised to me as heir to the throne of grace. I was promised the heavenly kingdom thanks to the grace of salvation I accepted when offered by God. He gave His son as a sacrifice for my sin and allowed Him to die for that sin even as He had no sin Himself. But God did to keep Jesus as dead, He raised Him from the dead to show the way for me after my life is done in this world.

The death and resurrection of Christ is the example given for me to live by in this world. I have given myself to Christ in thanks for taking on my sin and death so that I would not have to. And, He in return gave me life eternal. Not in this world, but in heaven. And to get there, I have to be raised again from this world and on to heaven. If Christ had not been raised, then there would be no example to believe and follow. So, I gain from the dead being raised as Christ rose again for me.

What is your view of death? Is your life just over? What if you were to believe in Christ, His death, and resurrection and that you gain the heavenly reward?

Life Gained When Given Up

I know, another one of those sayings that seem to not make a lot of sense, we gain life by giving up life. But that is exactly what Jesus offers to us all.

“³⁵For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” – Mark 8:35 (ESV)

I am here to work for and please the LORD. I am not here for myself. Therefor I should be giving all to the LORD and the work He has for me. But it is more than just giving of my talents, I am to give my life for Him. I am to offer myself as an offering to Him and not just my works. What good is it to hold onto my life when I have given all of my works and talent to the LORD? I have to give everything to get everything.

“³⁶For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? ³⁷For what can a man give in return for his soul?” – Mark 8:36-37 (ESV)

And yes, these two verses are questions and yet they are full of answers. There is no gain from the world for the price of my soul. Remember that we cannot take things with us when we leave this world. All that is gained in this world is lost when we leave.

But, when we give ourselves fully, including our soul to the LORD, our reward is just getting started. Think of it like a financial investment. I make a deposit on day one and again on day two and so on. There does not seem like much in the beginning, but over time, that small investment grows and before you know it there is more to it than you thought possible. With Christ, the gain in the beginning of the relationship will be hard and small. Yet, over time the relationship grows and before you know it, there is so much gain that we look forward to moving on to heaven when the time comes.

Gain from the LORD is not the physical that we come to expect here in this world. It is of the heavenly, which is more precious as we get to take it with us and experience it for eternity. It all starts with the acceptance of salvation and grace and we then make those little deposits daily which become easier and easier as time progresses and before we know it, we are giving all we have to Him as the joy and love abound through us. When the time comes, we will rejoice at the heavenly gains we have acquired through our obedience and giving to the LORD.

What gain are you hoping for? Are you looking for the gains in this world? What if you sought the gains that you can take with you through the giving of yourself to the LORD fully?

Confidence for the Day of Judgment

Tears of joy is what should come when being judged. You see, when I abide in and follow the commands of the LORD, I am on the right side of judgment.

“¹⁶So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.” – 1 John 4:16-17 (ESV)

It is with confidence that I enter each day. I know that I am with the LORD and He is with me. I know that I am working for Him and all the actions I take for the LORD are in line with His Will. Knowing that I am adhering to God’s Law and that His Law is greater than man’s law, I am confident in those actions. Therefore, any judgment that come from my actions are of no consequence as my actions would be considered righteous and I should be joyous in knowing that I have done the LORD’s Work.

Now we come to the judgment day. When I have taken on the actions of the LORD daily, I know that I have been righteous in my actions and on that day will be held to account for them. Again, I should be joyous in knowing that I have done the LORD’s Work and that He will reward me. I also will not be surprised where I am held to account on that day for where I was not adhering to the LORD’s Will and again be joyous knowing that I have been open to again having them read out.

Confidence is provided by God for all that I have done. Whether those actions are for or against the LORD, I am to be held to account and should know that all will be read out. I come to the judgment day knowing that all is known and my joy of being there should be evident in my tears. Not tears of fear and anguish, but tears of joy for the heavenly reward.

What does your confidence level look like? Are you worried about what may be found out or about the punishment to come? What if you had the confidence in the LORD that you have done all that you were to do and that now it is time to be rewarded on that judgment day?