Weekend, April 16, 2022
The First of a Great Harvest
“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT).
It never was God’s plan for us to die. It was God’s plan for us to live forever. It was not even God’s plan for us to age. You see, if our first parents, Adam and Eve, had not eaten the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, sin would not have entered the world. But now we’re all facing the repercussions of it.
The message of Easter, then, is that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. And death died when Christ rose.
Of course, people are still dying physically, and they always will. It will happen to all of us in time. But the resurrection of Jesus says that we can live beyond the grave.
The apostle Paul wrote, “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT).
To lose a loved one is so difficult to deal with. I know this from experience because our oldest son Christopher died in an automobile accident. When I heard that news, to say I was devastated is an understatement. My life was altered. That is what happens when a loved one leaves you.
We wonder, “Why did God allow this to happen? Why is this tragedy happening? Why are people dying?”
I don’t know. No one does. But if you’re a follower of Christ and have lost loved ones who died in faith, you will see them again. Your loved ones who have gone to Heaven are not only a part of your past; they’re also a part of your future.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25 NLT). The resurrection of Jesus was the death of death.
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Grief is one of life’s most difficult challenges. Pastor Greg Laurie experienced this truth when his son Christopher passed away suddenly. Discover comfort and healing in times of pain as you read his book Hope for Hurting Hearts. Receive your copy as our gift for your donation of any amount to Harvest Ministries this month.
