“Is this all there is? We’re born. We live a little while. We die. That’s it?”
Those questions just about took me under one Saturday morning, only weeks before my high school graduation. I’m grateful to say, that since then, I’ve come to know Jesus Christ. I’ve come to experience a new life because of His death. But here’s a question that a lot of people wonder about:
Question: If I’m going to die eventually, what good was Jesus’ death afterall?

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Answer: Jesus’ death, His meeting the bill of costs and particulars of the courts, was only the beginnning.
Jesus told his twelve disciples that He would be killed, but that three days later He’d “raise this temple.” Of course, He was talking about His own body, the true temple, where the Spirit of God now resides in the hearts of true Jesus-worshipers.

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Then, just as He said, He did raise Himself from among the dead. Three days later. And for the next forty days, Jesus appeared to over 500 witnesses.
Then Jesus went up to heaven in a cloud, while His disciples stood there amazed, gazing up into the sky. Two angels who’d been standing there said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Why do I bring this up? Two reasons:
1: JESUS IS COMING BACK
During their last earthly supper together, Jesus predicted His betrayal and death. Jesus quickly added, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:1-3).”
2. JESUS BECAME THE FIRST AMONG MANY BRETHREN TO EXPERIENCE THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD
This is our hope, people! If this life is all there is, we are to be pitied. We have lived for nothing that lasts forever. Because even if I live for the sake of passing something on, eventually those others will die too. And all that I ever did will die along with them. If there is no resurrection, there is absolutely no hope of ever reuniting with loved ones. This is it! This is all there is.
But that is not true. And if we live for Jesus, whatever we do in His name will last. Forever! But I’m getting ahead of myself…
We will all be raised from our graves. Some of us to life eternal with Jesus in heaven, others to life eternal in hell, separated from God and all that’s good. That is what Jesus told us. And speaking of being raised…

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You might be wondering exaclty how the dead are raised. What kind of body will we have?
Think about it this way: When farmers plant their tiny seeds with their various shells, those seeds must first be dead, then buried into the soil. The body of the life inside that dead shell breaks through and bursts the crust of the earth with a brand new look, a new body.
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.” Your body and my body is made up of skin and bones that is already winding down to its death. We’re dying as I speak. But these bodies of ours will be exchanged for new bodies that never get old, get sick or die.
So, “If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body…flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God…” said the Apostle Paul.
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep [die a physical death], but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.

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For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised…then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ ”
These fleshly bodies of ours that have been marred by sin’s disgrace will be raised with Garden perfection.
These bodies of ours that right now are still affected by sin’s influence, and prone to give in to sin, will be raised in power.
Your physical body is anchored to earth’s laws; but the spiritual body will transcend the laws of gravity and the bounds of time.
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 15:35-56, italics mine).
No, this life is not one long Schlitz commercial, clanging our mugs together, saying, “You only go around once.” But today, if you hear His voice, know and believe this: that “the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)
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