Everybody can rise with Jesus
There may be times when you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously. Sometimes we do things that may not look good to others on the side-lines. The problem is that many people see it, but don’t have the courage to tell you that you’re actually going off course.
Paul, however, was not afraid. On the contrary, he had the passion to help others and couldn’t stop talking about it. It boggled his mind that people didn’t want to believe. How stupid can you be? God’s message is so simple. Everything had happened right here before your eyes! How can you not believe? 12 If you became believers because you trusted the proclamation that Christ is alive, risen from the dead, how can you let people say that there is no such thing as a resurrection?
These guys knew precisely what God had done. These weren’t just stories that Jesus had arisen and appeared to several people. The people could simply not stop talking about the fact that they had seen Jesus again, but still some people simply couldn’t believe it.
I, on the other hand, can simply not understand why some people cannot or do not want to believe. They choose to reject God’s message of salvation and make it out to be nonsense. Then I feel like saying nothing and leaving them to muddle on. But Paul didn’t do that. You see, he who had bumped into Jesus himself and who understood precisely what it was all about could simply not remain silent.
Therefore, he summarises again what had happened: 21There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. 22Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ. 23But we have to wait our turn: Christ is first, then those with him at his Coming, the grand consummation when, after crushing the opposition, he hands over his kingdom to God the Father.
Really, my friend. Why don’t you want to give this wonderful message a chance to explode in your life? You cannot simply keep on going as if God does not exist! You cannot draw a line through Jesus’ act of salvation and live as if life will one day simply stop with nothing in the hereafter!
I feel a pain around my heart when I realise that many people will simply not get there. I suddenly realise that I come into contact with people every day who do not make this message part of their existence. I realise their lives will end here on earth and hereafter.
Again I learn from Paul. Never stop talking about Jesus. Keep on and on and hope that one day they will understand. Keep on believing that that very person has a faith button and that he or she will switch it on one day. Keep on hoping that the light will be switched on in their lives some time and that they will rise with us one day.
Reflection
Will you rise with Jesus one day?
Who around you will not?
Will you give them the message?
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, thank You for correcting Adam’s mistake. Thank You that everybody who believes will one day rise with Jesus. Please help me to tell this to others. Please help me not to keep quiet. Please make me sensitive to see who I should tell. Amen
