Expectations of the Afterlife

Recently, just about every channel has something about the death of Anna Nicole Smith. I am not sure why it is of such interest except for the fact that she is another in a line of celebrities whose lives have spiraled into an abyss of excess. I heard one radio host state that he read a newspaper that called her death “shocking” and “mysterious”. The host went on to say that in his opinion neither was the case. He went on to say, “if I had to guess what young Hollywood persona would die next, she would have been near the top of the list.”
But we do have a fascination about death don’t we? The traffic stops and people look. The casket is opened and people have a final pass by to see the deceased. It is the same fascination that keeps Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, and even Elvis living on. I think we are really looking at death so that we can see it…feel it… get to know it, even if only a little. It seems so unknown, yet it is an inevitable aspect of life that looms in each person’s future. There may be a sense of fear and yet I also think a certain respect given to death. We spend millions of dollars to look young and in some way, cheat time. Somehow, if we just stay young, we will never die. But you and I both know that THAT is a lie!
In I Corinthians 15:12-20, Apostle Paul speaks about death. He explains the death of Jesus and the meaning behind His resurrection. Instead of fearing death, people of faith can look at death with an understanding of fulfilled expectations. Paul gives three expectations which each believer can count on. The first expectation to be fulfilled will be the resurrection itself. Paul uses the logic that if Christ rose from the grave, we too shall rise. While other religions point to a grave where their founder is buried, Christians point to the empty tomb and say, “He is risen indeed!” We worship a living God who lets nothing come between us, even death itself. (Romans 8) Second, we will stand face to face with God without worry of having to reflect upon the sins we committed in this world. In Jesus Christ, our sins (mine and yours) are forgiven and God remembers them no more. Third, we will enjoy a physical resurrection with new bodies that do not decay. We will experience the fellowship of being together with God and each other with totally new recognizable bodies.
As Christians we live in the present age in obedience. In the afterlife, we shall rise in joy to be with the Lord. Yes, death is inevitable, but if you a Christian you should see death as a fulfillment of great expectations. The best is yet to come…God loves you!

A Burning Question

For years, television quiz shows have been popular. Each week, millions of people tune into shows like Deal or No Deal, 1 vs. 100, or the old standby Jeopardy. Each contestant is asked to answer questions and according to their answer they can win money or prizes.
The burning question for people of faith is, “Who is God?” That is the question confronting Moses in Exodus 3. He stands before a burning bush and finds out that within the bush is the presence of God. But there is a twist to this story. God doesn’t expect Moses to come up with the right answer on his own. God reveals himself to Moses and tells Moses who He is. Ironically, the answer is unique…God is who God is. You might have guessed that one!
From this burning bush incident we can gather three things about God which can help us know more about God. First, God sees and hears people. Therefore, we know God is aware and paying attention to the world, especially those who are suffering. Second, God plans and acts. God tells Moses that Moses will be God’s instrument to deliver the Hebrew people from their oppression. This is no passive, “out to lunch” God. We know our God is involved and cares deeply for those who follow Him. Third, God gives the people an identity. As one of God’s followers, each person becomes an heir. God has a people and through that people a covenant has been established. Our God says “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” and therefore, God is relational. We know that God wants to have a relationship with each follower. So, what do you believe about God? Do you simply acknowledge that there is a God? Many in our society think they are religious because they believe there is a God. I disagree. The Bible teaches that God is relational and wants to be in each of our lives. Being a Christian involves more than thinking there is a God or even simply attending a church. There is an old saying goes, “being in a church doesn’t make someone a Christian just like standing in a garage doesn’t make someone a car.” Having a relationship with God is letting go of what each of individual wants and living an obedient life of asking God what God wants for us. Choosing such a life leads to a deep relationship with God and is the only truly fulfilling life. Moses learned these three things about God. It was a difficult job in leading the children out of Egypt, but Moses chose to listen to and follow God. You can too! God loves you.