Hope

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

⁵⁰ What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

⁵¹ But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵² It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

⁵⁴ Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵ O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

I love this passage of scripture – it fills me with so much hope. For those of us who are believers in Christ, death has lost its sting and holds no victory over us.

A few years ago I had the privilege of being present at the bedside as my Dad walked through death’s door into eternity. My Dad’s faith gave him and my whole family incredible peace and hope that we will one day be reunited.

And then the last verse in this passage gives us hope for the present. “Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, for you know that your labour is not in vain”.

There have been times when I have felt like my labour is in vain. When something I’ve worked on doesn’t go to plan. When I wonder if what I am doing is really making a difference in anyone’s life.

This verse encourages me to keep going. To keep giving myself fully to whatever the Lord has for me to do right now – whether I can see ‘results’ or not. God has promised that my labour is not in vain. I believe that when we get to heaven we will be surprised to find out the difference our obedience to God has made in this life.

Lord, thank you for Your hope – both now and in the life beyond this earth. Help me to stand firm and to keep giving myself fully to your work, knowing that in You nothing is wasted.

Written by Shelley Witt