Resurrection Isn't a Lie

The idea of resurrection is great. You live a very short life interspersed with suffering and pain and finally death. Since it’s so great, how about our believing it and in so doing make ourselves feel really good because of it? When we die, we just graduate to a glorified body with no more sickness, death, pain, or sorrow. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Is it true though?

Just imagining it without it being true, that kind of lie, that changes outlook and philosophy of life completely, seems insidious and awful. The Apostle Paul himself writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that it’s a highly miserable situation for believers if the resurrection didn’t really happen. Yet, Paul doubles down on resurrection in all of his writings. In the same chapter, he talks about resurrection motivating conversion to Christ despite the likelihood of a gruesome martyrdom for believing it. Resurrection becomes the deciding factor in the equation.

When Paul preached the gospel, he founded the gospel on the resurrection. Not believing the resurrection meant not believing in Jesus Christ or receiving Him. If Jesus stayed in the tomb, he was just another victim of Roman crucifixion in the first century.

On a sheerly anecdotal basis, doubt over the reality of resurrection is not a problem for me. I believe Jesus rose from the dead and so I also have resurrection. I have a concern for myself that the truth of resurrection does not translate suitably to the way that I live. If true, resurrection is likely the greatest actuality on earth. It takes away the fearful manipulation of death. Resurrection provides strong confidence when facing any circumstance. The extent of the practical results of resurrection on my life get my attention and I hope it will for you too on this Easter Sunday, then the rest of the year and your life.