The context of 1 Chronicles 12 shows the men of the various tribes pledging their loyalty to David and offering their expertise to him as king. Verse 32 says this about the men of Issachar: “…they understood the times, and knew what Israel ought to do.” There are two things in this verse worthy of note that are both timeless and timely.

First, the men of Issachar “understood the times.” Poets and pundits have employed various terms and phrases to describe our times—they are the times “that try men’s souls”; or they are “the best of times and the worst of times.” The Bible accurately describes these times as “perilous times” (2 Timothy 3:1), and then proceeds to list specific behaviors that both serve as the effect and the cause of such times.

A careful survey of “our times” will show that Western society is plagued by several social, moral, and spiritual ills. Issues such as homosexuality and abortion are two of the “symptoms” of these ills (I call them “symptoms” because these are only the outward manifestations of deeper spiritual and moral problems). The axiom “For every effect there is a cause,” applies here. The cause for the spiritual and moral decline in America (and in Western society) is the impact which philosophy (perhaps more accurately, philosophies) has had on Western thinking.

The “grandfather” of this family of philosophies is humanism,.  Humanism is the idea that man is the measure of all things, and that there is no God (moral governor) to whom we are accountable; therefore, we are free to be (and to do) whatever we choose. Some of the other “children” of this family are: hedonism (the idea that pleasure is the purpose for our existence); existentialism (the belief that each of us finds our own reason(s) for existence); pluralism (the idea that there are many ways to God, happiness, etc.); narcissism (the concept that I’m the center of the universe; and everything centers in me); situation ethics and relativism (the position that there is no one value [ ,or set of values] , that applies to everyone at all times, so each individual situation determines what the course of action should be); and the theory of evolution, (the theory which rejects the idea of God and the creative acts which the book of Genesis conveys are recorded in the book of Genesis, and instead, affirms that all that exists is the result of chance, (the “Big Bang”) , and the evolutionary process.

Almost daily, the various electronic and print media give us one or more examples of the inhumane treatment and conduct of man towards man (multiple shootings on the high school campus, the college campus, and/or in the workplace,; more than 1.5 million abortions annually, etc.). Many of us sit in amazement and puzzlement at all of this animal behavior. But we should not be surprised—after all,  we have had a generation (perhaps more) of evolutionary and humanistic teaching drummed into our heads via biology textbooks, etc.  We should expect nothing different. To put it simply: Why do people behave like animals? The answer is loud and clear— :  because that is what people have been led to believe they are—merely animal, and nothing more!

Is there an answer? Yes! The answer lies in the second timely phrase of 1 Chronicles 12:32—the men of Issachar knew “what Israel ought to do”! The operative word in this phrase is “ought”—an imperative ought—meaning “should” or “what needs to be done.” This means, then, that there is something (1) which can be done; (2) which should be done; (3) which must be done, and; (4) which everyone should do. This flies in the face of the postmodernistic attitude that each must determine for himself what he should do, and that there is no one standard (rule, law, principle) by which everyone can (and should) live.

As people who believe that (1) there is truth—unchanging, timeless in its nature; that (2) this truth is knowable (John 8:32); that (3) this truth is for all people of all ethnicities at all times; that (4) this truth is divine in its origin (Psalms 119:89); that (5) it is found in the Word of God (John 17:17); that (6) it is embodied in the person of Jesus, the living Word (John 1:1); and that (7) we can know the certainty of those things in which we have been instructed (Luke 1:4), we must realize more than ever before that we know what we believe and why we believe it. Indeed, we must “be ready always to give an answer” (1 Peter 3:15).

The beginning place for this teaching is the home. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 reminded God’s people to have God’s Word in their own hearts and to teach these things to their children using a systematic, regular method. If we but follow God’s plan we can (and will over time) reverse the trend. May God give us more men (and homes) like those of Issachar!

 Having looked into the tearful eyes of parents whose children have abandoned the Faith, I have learned there are a million miles between our children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual lives versus our children possessing hearts that dictate their actions. In this column, I plan to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my own children and those whom I love.

It’s no secret that we live in a materialistic society. The mainstream media constantly bombards us with advertisements of products that we “need.” My generation has perfected the art of “keeping up with the Jones.” In fact, most individuals my age wanted to start their marriages with the same material possessions that it took our parents thirty years to amass. And so we purchased it all—on credit. We are a generation of consumers and takers. Sadly, this selfishness is now being passed on to future generations, as children want more and more. Holidays such as Christmas are no longer about family and memories, but rather they revolve around commercialism and “things.”

Here’s what I intend on teaching my children about giving versus taking.

Every Christmas morning since you were born your mother and I have set up a video camera to record the events of the morning. It’s one of the ways we have recorded you growing up through the years, as you went from crawling over presents and playing with empty boxes, to running into the room trying to guess exactly what was in each box. One of our joys as parents has been watching you tear open the wrapping paper and seeing your eyes light up as you see what was contained in the package.

 Having been reared in the United States, you are extremely blessed. You have never experienced poverty or not had something you need. In fact, most of the time you get things you want. But your mother and I worry about what we are teaching you regarding giving versus taking. One of my greatest hopes is that during your lifetime you will learn the joy of giving. Undoubtedly, you will grow up around individuals who surround themselves with “things.” But remember things won’t buy happiness. Remember that those “things” can never fill the void in your life as He can. And never forget ultimately Who owns everything.

There are literally thousands of individuals who have abandoned the Faith in favor of material possessions. These people are selfish takers. They never learned the art of giving. In the book of Acts, Paul reminded the people the words Jesus Christ had shared, saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Never forget this admonition from the Son of God. I pray that as you grow older you will constantly be on the lookout for ways to give to others. The feeling you get inside is like none other. Practice random acts of kindness. Never forget-- people are much more valuable than things.

When your mom and I were in Russia, we had the opportunity to visit the “flat” (apartment) of one of the local Christians. They lived a beautiful life, but it was obvious they did not own near the material possessions we did. They worked hard just to get by. During our visit, we complimented a picture she had hanging on the wall, and she literally went over and took it off the wall and gave it to us. We tried desperately to tell her no, but she insisted. In the years since, I have forgotten her name but we still have the picture. Her act of kindness has remained in my memory for years. She truly was a giver.

As you mature, you will meet people who place an inordinate amount of attention on material possessions. Their identity is shaped not by who they really are, but rather by what they own. Many people spend years climbing the corporate ladder so that they can buy more “things.” These individuals remind us of the Rich Young Ruler who asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life. “Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me’” (Matthew 19:21). Rather than him ruling his possessions, his possessions ruled him. The Bible tells us he went away sorrowful because he had many possessions. Be thankful for what God has blessed you with, but never let your material possessions separate you from Jehovah God. Look for ways to share your possessions. Be a giver, not a taker!

 As my daughter Hannah and I were driving home one day from a youth rally, we naturally began to talk about the lessons we had heard that day. In the middle of that conversation came the comment from Hannah that is every mother’s nightmare: “Mom,” she said, “I am just really sick of hearing teachers and preachers say, ‘Just say no to premarital sex.’”

I’m sure I almost had a wreck. I could not imagine such a statement coming out of her mouth! I had always heard that moms of teens should be on the lookout for the morphing; you know, the time when the compliance is replaced by complaining, the respect gives way to rebellion, and the silliness turns to sulking. Other moms had told me to prepare myself for a time when she would become a “real” teenager and just go to her room and talk on the phone or listen to music or whatever it is that teenage girls do for a few years. But Hannah and I had a sweet and open relationship. I was taken aback that the transformation could be so sudden and marked by such a blatant, “out of the blue” remark.

“I beg your pardon, Hannah, but what on earth do you mean?” I stammered.

“Oh, Mom, you know. I just don’t think sexual promiscuity happens like that. I mean I really can’t imagine myself ever having to seriously say “no” to a guy who is pressuring me to go all the way.”

“I’m still a little fuzzy…”

“Well, Mom, you see it’s like this. In my circle of friends, it’s most often me who suggests that we change the channel because the show gets raunchy or the commercial is obscene. I am the one who won’t go to the pool party because I’m not going to wear a swimsuit in front of a guy. Remember, it’s me again who’s home on Friday night because the movie they’re seeing is not clean. And I am the one who won’t even sit at the same table in the restaurant where someone is drinking. C’mon now, Mom….Do you really think that there is a guy out there who would ask me out with the faintest notion in his little brain that dating me would include sex?!”

She had a valid point. As she went on to explain, the guys who really are interested in sexual relationships are generally smart enough to “take the cues.” They are more likely to look for girls who aren’t displaying obvious defense mechanisms against sexual impurity. While perhaps failing to understand that the devil can also “wear down” well-meaning couples, she used good logic. It is true that a young girls’s chances are far better to stay away from fornication when she is making a good attempt to flee (1 Corinthians 6:18). Perhaps she didn’t see though, at that moment, the most profound inference she was making about her future. She was actually saying that a girl can, by her demeanor and all the little, day-to-day decisions of sanctification, “weed out” many unsavory potential boyfriends.

Our son has verified on several occasions that the same shoe fits the male foot, as well. Our conversations go something like this: I say…

“Caleb, what about Susan So-and -So? She’s really cute. Have you thought of asking her out?” (I always try to be helpful like that.)

“Yeah, Mom. I thought she was cute, too….And she’s pretty smart. She’s in my club and I thought about asking her out, but then one day I passed her in the student center and she used this vulgar word that just totally made me NOT want to date her.”

Or…

“Yeah, Mom. She’s nice, but she wears things sometimes that just really aren’t very modest. I don’t think so.”

Or,,,

“Well, I did think about her, but she was in that group that invited me to go see that movie that no Christian should really see.”

I’m their mom. I understand that finding the right mate involves more than the process of elimination. I certainly am not under the delusion that we did everything right as we tried to develop moral courage in our kids. I hope they will forgive us for all the times we failed to take advantage of opportunities to strengthen the muscles of conviction. At the same time, though, I hope our kids remember all those hundreds of prayers in which we said their names, imploring the Father to help them find faithful Christian mates, mates who would help them get to Heaven. I hope our nightly family Bible times had a powerful and cumulative effect of showing them the importance of a marriage united in God’s Truth. I think they will remember times when we desperately tried to help other couples who had made poor choices in selecting mates. When they were old enough to start dating, we gave them little dating “check cards” they could carry in their wallets with important characteristics for which they should be watching; things like “Can she be happy when she is not the center of attention?” or “Does he speak respectfully to and about his parents?” We encouraged them to attend a faithful Christian university where young adults from similar homes would likely attend. Their dates are always welcome at our house and are included in our family Bible times. You and your son can observe a lot about a girl’s spiritual moorings in the atmosphere of a family devotional. You and your daughter can learn a lot about a guy when your family engages in a deep spiritual conversation. There is truly a plethora of everyday activities, conversations, and nuances in the Christian family that make it only natural that the children look for someone with whom they can share the passion that dwarfs all other interests.

We are counting on our theory that the job of getting faithful sons-in-law and godly daughters-in-law is 95% complete when we successfully place real conviction in the hearts of our sons and daughters. The devil is very assertive in America in 2008. If our children grow up with their affections on Heaven (Colossians 3:2), it will not be an accident. Furthermore, if they grow up to be morally pure adults, they will be very dissimilar to the average person of the world (1 Peter 2:9). For distinctive young Christian adults, moral and spiritual priorities will serve as fences, seriously narrowing the field of potential mates. While this thinning of prospective candidates for marriage is a good thing, it may make the process of finding him or her arduous, perhaps even daunting. It may mean going out of your way, flexing your schedule, or even traveling to places where faithful people come together: Christian colleges, lectureships, seminars, and fellowship activities. The decision of whom to marry is larger than life. Its ramifications affect destinies of generations and reach to eternity. While the stakes are very high, we as parents must remember that, while we may give advice, we are not in charge of the final decision. But we have a very powerful ally in our corner. God, who pities us like a father pities his children (Psalm 103:13), has promised that when we ask according to His will, He hears and answers(1 John 5:14). I believe it is His will that my children marry people who will help them go to Heaven. So I will keep on asking daily. I really want God to help choose the two people who will be helping to raise my smart and beautiful grandchildren. He has never failed to give me the spiritual desires of my heart as I delight in Him (Psalm 37:4).

            As my husband and I wait on the Lord with eager hearts of hope, we are overcome with a sense of wonder at His amazing care. We know that He is preparing another stage of our lives in which He has potential blessings the richness of which we don’t yet have the capacity to fully anticipate. We believe there are two things that, by the grace of God, parents can do to help ensure the marital security of their children. The first is to daily teach, by your words, your priorities, your own marriage relationship, and your cumulative reactions to the immorality of the world around you. The second is to fervently pray for your children: that their major choices in life will always be those that will ultimately lead the future generations of your family to Heaven. The first one is the hardest. It is also urgent because it is a fleeting responsibility. Parents have one span of about eighteen short years (the shortest span of your lifetime!) to fulfill this huge and sacred responsibility. The second is the one we never stop doing. What are you doing today for your own children’s step into eternity and marriage relationship—at whatever stage in life they are celebrating?

 The weather was hot, but the tennis match was just what he needed. Out on the court, Daniel was able to pound away some of the nagging stress of life, and simply focus on exercising, competing, and having fun with Tyler, his friend and brother in Christ. It was Tyler’s turn to provide the snacks and drinks, so they left the park and headed to his house. Tyler was a deacon at their congregation, and Daniel often looked up to him for his wisdom and godly example. In fact, Tyler was chiefly responsible for getting Daniel to go on his first mission trip overseas. He was a person that many in the congregation loved and respected.

When they walked into Tyler’s home, Daniel immediately began to admire the family portraits that graced the walls of Tyler’s home. As they walked into the kitchen, Tyler opened the refrigerator and asked Daniel, “What will it be?” Staring back at him from the soft glow of the refrigerator light were three brands of soft drinks, a couple of sports drinks, four bottles of water, and two different types of beer. Daniel quickly chose a sports drink, but his head was still reeling from the sight of the beer bottles.

As he took a seat on the sofa, his impression of Tyler continued to spiral down. He began to see things that he had previously overlooked. A quick glance at Tyler’s DVD collection revealed that he had no problem at all watching R and NC-17-rated movies that contained immoral behavior laced with hundreds of curse words. The magazines and books that adorned his shelves were questionable at best. As he panned around the room, he noticed the pictures he formerly admired also contained images of Tyler’s daughters in bikinis at public beaches, and dressed up for prom night. In a span of three minutes, all of the positive influence Tyler had ever had on Daniel was lost.

Like it or not, we are all on a “dual” sliding scale when it comes to influence. One slide varies according to the influence we have on others around us (e.g., Tyler), that can affect them for good or bad. The other sliding bar represents the influence the world has on us, that can affect our own spiritual lives for good or bad. As Christians, we must strive to minimize the world’s influence, all the while influencing others for good.

Our Influence On Others

I have listened, on several occasions, as Christians have used mental and spiritual gymnastics to try and justify or legitimize certain questionable behaviors. The foundation of their arguments is always the same: “The Bible doesn’t say we can’t.” And with this simple wave of their cerebral magic wands, they embrace behaviors such as social drinking. While they don’t feel their behaviors violate Scripture, they have forgotten the impact of their influence on others.

Before we get mired down in a debate on what behaviors and activities are “acceptable” or “allowed,” there is a trump card that resolves the issues—our Christian influence on those around us. Since we do not live in a vacuum or alone on an island, our actions and choices influence someone, even if it is just a cashier at the local grocery store. That cashier has a soul, and will one day stand at the judgment seat of God. As followers of Christ, what influence do we each have on that person?

No matter what behaviors one condemns or condones, he cannot separate himself from his influence. Our actions and influence are married together. We are called to be lights to the world (Matthew 5:13-16), following Christ’s example (1 Peter 2:21-22). As we examine our hearts, we need to ask: What is more important, justifying a questionable behavior or remaining a light to the world and guarding our influence on others?

Have you ever stopped to consider how your daily actions impact the lives of others? Even mundane things like running errands. Are we conducting ourselves in such a way that we become a stumbling block for others? Some of the chief complaints against Christianity are hypocrisy and poor attitudes. While I don’t believe anyone should allow others to affect their own relationship with God (or use the excuse of hypocrisy as a crutch), I do recognize the behavior of others can, and does, have an impact. Paul wrote, “So then, each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:12-13, emp. added).

Our influence is not just limited to certain actions; it is also linked to our attitudes and dispositions. I have been in Atlanta’s airport and watched individuals wearing “mission” t-shirts, on their way to teach Bible in third world countries, scream and yell at airline workers when flights were delayed. I have been in worship services where frown-wearing Christians looked as though it truly pained them to be in attendance. Or how about when depressed–looking Christians sing “…When we all get to heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be.”

How powerful and important is our own personal influence? Consider Peter’s admonition to women whose husbands are not Christians. “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives” (1 Peter 3:1, emp. added). Is our conduct winning souls for Christ, or are we simply blending into the world—appearing as worldly individuals, like we were before we were baptized?

When we put on Christ in baptism, we need to remember that we put away the old man (Galatians 3:27; Colossians 3:9-11). We are no longer living for self, but rather for Him. We are no longer running with the same crowd. Peter reminded those who had left their former ways: “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:3-4 emp. added).

Never forget that long after you take your last breath, your influence will live on.  The influence Tyler had in Daniel’s life took a major negative turn—one that would not soon be forgotten. In Revelation 14:13 we learn that our works follow us after death. In Hebrews 11:4 we learn that Abel “being dead still speaks.” His influence, and the influences of other godly individuals like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and others have been recorded in that great “Hall of Faith” listed in Hebrews 11. How will your influence affect others after you are gone?

Others Influence on Us

Volumes have been written on the dangers of influence from society, as our nation continues its downward slide toward hedonism and immorality. Just a few months ago, we featured an issue of Think on “Influences of the Media,” pointing out some of the dangers for which young and old alike must be on the lookout. Even though forms of media and trends have changed, the Truth found in God’s Word has not.  In 1 John 2:15-16 we read, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world”

We also must look at the influence of the individuals with whom we, and our children, associate. How much time do you spend getting to know your children’s friends? Sadly, it is often only after-the-fact that parents recognize that their children’s journey towards apostasy began when they were hanging around certain wayward individuals. Paul’s words to Christians in Corinth still ring true, “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33). I suspect every congregation holds some gray-headed parents who wish they had given more heed to this verse when their own children were young. Do you really know your children’s friends?

Parents, teachers, preachers, and elders also need to give strong consideration to the amount and the content of what young and old alike are consuming from the media. Do we give thought to the lyrics of the songs to which our children are listening? When is the last time you changed the television channel because the show your children or grandchildren were watching was not one of which God would approve? Or what about the Web pages that are viewed at your home or office? In commenting on the profuse influence of humanism within our society, Tim LeHaye observed in his book, The Battle for the Mind, “Our present society is in a state of moral decay, not because the majority of Americans love degeneracy, but because the influence of humanism has been greater on our culture than the influence of the church” (1980, p. 189). Could this not also be said for the influence of atheism, materialism, liberalism, evolution, and hedonism?

What about your own influence? What can you personally do to ensure that your influence doesn’t negatively impact others? When you go to the voting booth, how will your influence affect our nation? Is your influence shaped and molded by the world, or are you doing all you can to shape and mold the world for Him?

 The apostle Paul left no doubt about the importance of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Inspired of the Holy Spirit, he wrote:

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:14-19, ESV).

If the body of Jesus of Nazareth remains in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, then the religion of the New Testament falls of its own weight. The Bible becomes a document worth little more than the paper on which it is printed. Gospel preaching has no value. Faith means nothing. The apostles were liars of the worst stripe. Sin’s filth remains caked on the souls of all men. All eternal hope is lost. Therefore, no one deserves the world’s pity more than the hapless goofs who put their lives and possessions on the line for a fraud named Jesus. That’s why we should fall to our knees in gratitude for the triumphant and straightforward exclamation of Paul, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20, ESV)!

It is not the purpose of this article to delineate the evidence that unquestionably proves Paul’s statement true. You will find that evidence elsewhere in this issue of Think. My purpose is to look beyond the resurrection event itself to its implications. What is the significance of the resurrection for the Christian who lives some two thousand years after it happened? How does it translate into my daily existence? What does it mean to me? Allow me to suggest the following for your contemplation.

The Resurrection Validates Jesus Himself

Jesus made scores of bold claims about Himself while He walked the dusty roads of first-century Palestine. He affirmed that He was “the bread of life” (John 6:32), the Source of “living water” (John 4:10), “the good shepherd” (John 10:11), the only Way to the Father (John 14:6), and “the light of the world” (John 8:12) to name a scant few. But His grandest claims were these and similar ones: “Messiah” (John 4:25-26), Son of God (John 5:17-24), “King of the Jews” (Luke 23:3; John 18:33-37), and “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Yes, Jesus repeatedly affirmed that He would be raised from the dead (Matthew 12:40; 16:21; 17:22-23; John 2:18-22, et al.).

Therefore, if the promise of Hs resurrection had proven ultimately to be untrue, Jesus would have been a liar and unworthy of being obeyed. But with the reality of the resurrection (and His other miracles) comes the validity of all His claims and the human responsibility to submit to His authority. Paul wrote that Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God…by His resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4, ESV). Since the body of Jesus no longer remains in the tomb, you may, with unwavering confidence, believe everything He ever said. Too, you have the obligation to bow before Him in sincere compliance with His Word, for that Word will meet you one day in judgment (John 12:48). The resurrection validates Jesus Himself.

The Resurrection Validates Baptism

The New Testament affirms that immersion in water is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38; see also Mark 16:16). But the efficacy of baptism lies not in the water necessary to accomplish the deed. The power is in the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5; Matthew 26:28) and in His resurrection from the dead. Note the words of Peter,

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, ?through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him (1 Peter 3:21-22, ESV).

Note the crux of Peter’s words, “Baptism…now saves you…through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” If Jesus had not been raised from the dead, baptism would have no meaning, and salvation would be just one religious illusion among many.

I encourage you to study how Paul illustrates this point in his comparison of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to the conversion of sinner to saint in Romans 6:1-5. There the inspired apostle contends “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (v. 4). It was the new life enjoyed by Jesus three days after His death that gives meaning to the new life the Christian experiences after he is raised from the watery grave of baptism. The resurrection validates baptism.

The Resurrection Validates Our Hope

The Christian who properly assesses his relationship to this world will readily admit that his citizenship is actually in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). It is Heaven for which we long (2 Corinthians 5:1-2). But that yearning would be completely in vain were it not for the Lord’s empty tomb. Here is how Peter put it,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3-4, ESV).

Genuine hope, as defined and illustrated by the writers of Scripture, is not merely wishful thinking. It is not the wistful craving for something that, deep down, you know you’ll never have. Biblical hope is confident expectation. It is the anticipation of the heart bolstered by the assurance of God’s promises. That’s why Bible writers speak with certainty about the Christian’s hope. The writer of Hebrews wrote of “full assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6:11). He affirmed that our hope was a “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19). Because of such confidence we are encouraged to “set [our] hope fully on the grace that will be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13, ESV). According to 1 Peter 1:3, this hope of the Christian is very much alive because Jesus is very much alive! The resurrection validates our hope.

The Resurrection Validates Our Immortality

Jesus stated, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25, ESV). Paul promised, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:22-23, ESV). The word firstfruits stems from a Greek word that means “a foretaste and pledge of blessings to come” (Louw and Nida). W. Harold Mare explains Paul’s metaphor well:

By “firstfruits” Paul brings to bear the rich imagery of the OT (Old Testament, EP). The “firstfruits” – the first sheaf of the harvest offered to the Lord (Leviticus 23:10-11, 17, 20) – was not only prior to the main harvest but was also an assurance that the rest of the harvest was coming. So with Christ. He preceded his people in his bodily resurrection and he is also the guarantee of their resurrection at his second coming (Mare, 285).

When Jesus walked out of Joseph’s tomb, He walked out as the personal guarantee that each of us will one day come forth from our own graves. Both you and I will exist eternally somewhere. How we live now will determine where we live in eternity. Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29, ESV).

No fact of world history should give us more reason to trust in Jesus, seek the salvation He offers, and rest our hope with certainty on the future resurrection of our own bodies than the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth two thousand years ago.

Bibliography

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:26). New York: United Bible societies.

Mare, W. Harold (1976). The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Vol. 10), Frank E. Gaebelein, general editor. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.