Endless Hope

“It has been said that graveyards remind us of the brevity of life.  Jesus’ resurrection reminds us of the brevity of death.  His death and resurrection offer us endless hope instead of a hopeless end.” – David E. Garland

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

What powerful, encouraging, and thoughtful words to ponder as we remember the sacrificial gift of love demonstrated in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  What Satan and people meant for evil and death, God meant for good and life.

Paul reminds fellow Christians, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”  (Romans 6:4)  And God promises the gift of salvation to all who believe and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, and my faith and trust in Him,  I have the assurance of life with Him both now and for eternity.  And with much gratitude and hope, that should make a difference in how I choose to pursue His will for my life.  Therefore, my actions, reactions, words, deeds, and everything I choose to do or not do should all be for God’s glory.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “By his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I Corinthians 10:31