People often spend their lives trying to avoid death. Our culture obsesses over youth. No one wants to grow old. No one wants to appear weak. No one wants to die. We’ll do anything to keep us from meeting the end of our lives. And when the end comes, we don’t know what to do.
Imagine you woke up tomorrow to discover you had a superpower—you can never die. How would your life be different? What would you change about the way you live?
Immortality isn’t far-fetched for us as Christians. Death on this earth is just the beginning of the story for us. We don’t have to fear death because Jesus already defeated it. Read 1 Corinthians 15:51–57.
51 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.
1 Corinthians 15 (NLT)
Paul gives us yet another picture of what will come when Jesus returns. We will experience immortality. We will be changed. Death will be defeated once and for all.
Our lives on earth will pass by like a breath. But we live today for what will last.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:58.
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.
1 Corinthians 15 (NLT)
What does this verse say about what we do during this life?
How does that truth shape your attitude toward your job? Family? Friends? Church?
With the promises of eternity in our minds and the work of Jesus as our foundation, we can persevere through anything in this life. Any pain or sorrow we experience can point us back to Jesus who endured the same. It can also point us forward to the resurrection we will experience because he rose from the dead first.
Spend some time reflecting on the truths from this week’s study. Try reading back through 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 slowly—or even out loud—allowing the Spirit to solidify the message in your mind and heart.
Write down a prayer of gratitude to God for what he has already done for you through Jesus, what he’s doing in you now, and what he will do when Jesus returns.
Text your response to the above prompting questions to your group and/or share it as a comment below
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your sacrificial love. You sent your son Jesus Christ to take on the condemnation and humiliation that we deserve. In that we may be transformed from this selfish, flesh feeding person to an others centered, loving, and graceful person. Thank you God for giving us purpose far beyond what this world can offer. Thank you for giving us the hope that we shall continue to rejoice and fellowship in your love far beyond our timeline on this earth. Thank you God for giving me the hope to be able to see my grandma once more and not just in a spiritual form, but in immortal bodies. Your plan is so great and detailed, created so you can delight in a relationship with us. I love you God, pray all these things in your sons name, amen.
God, I thank you for what you have done for me through Jesus. I know that I was lost in sin without you and I am thankful that you sent Jesus to die for me and through his sacrifice, I have the opportunity to have eternal life and to have all of my sins wiped away. I am also thankful for what you are doing in my life now and will continue to do into the future. I cannot wait till Jesus returns to redeem us and to have us live the rest of our lives with you in our new immortal bodies with you. I pray that as we are awaiting your return that you will continue to use me to further your Kingdom.