The Set-Up
One of the greatest deterrents to our faith is believing the lie that this life is all there is. We would probably never admit that out loud, but our actions show differently. How often do we live in fear of death? How often do we let what is happening in the here and now define our lives?
The lives were are living now are just a sliver of our existence. As James tells us in the New Testament, our life is just a puff of smoke. It’s there for a moment and then gone (James 4:14). The vast majority of our existence will be after we’ve lived our lives on earth – either eternity with God or eternity separated from Him.
Because Jesus conquered death through His resurrection, there is something better than our wildest dreams waiting for us on the other side of this life. We can’t allow ourselves to get too wrapped up in the things of this world, because it’s simply not going to last. It’s only temporary.
In no way am I disregarding the struggles of our lives. There are terribly hard seasons we all must walk through, but through it all, we can find peace and comfort knowing that God has something better planned for us. He loved us so much that Jesus died to open that way for us.
Passage to Read
Reflection Questions
What are your thoughts about what happens after death? Do you believe that we will live on through eternity? Why or why not?
Through Jesus, God has given us victory. What victories has Jesus helped you achieve in your own life?
How does believing that there is more waiting for us after this life help us live out the instructions Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 15:58?
This devotional was written by Tonya Snodgrass