What is the foundation of your life?
Is it your family’s fortune, your inelegance, your achievements, your social status, your car, your house, your wife, your children, your friends, your sport, etc.? I am not criticizing your choices in life, they do make an important part of your life, but I would like you to think how permanent those issues are. What can you take away with you when you die? Nothing. As you came into this world, so you will go when you die.
One of our preachers started in a small town many years ago. In those days there were no cooling facilities and when people died, they were buried the next day. One day both the richest man and the poorest man in town died. The preacher went into the room and surveyed both of them. They only had sheets over them and you could not see who the rich man was and who the poor man was. That is when it struck him. In front of God all people are equal in God’s sight. The real question is: Who found grace in the eyes of God. Which one believed in the resurrected Christ and was saved by faith?
Good question
My experience in Asia
Without the resurrection of Christ our faith comes to nothing. If he only died, he would be no different from the gods of Islam, Buddhism, Hari Krishna, Hinduism, etc. All their gods have died and are celebrated with physical objects. We serve a risen Christ.
In Nepal there is a belief that worships a goddess that died many years ago. They now place a young girl in the place of the goddess and they now worship her in place of the goddess. As soon as the child menstruates they remove her and place another child in her place. The surrogate goddesses are kept in the temple for life with a meager salary for only the basics.
I was in the green Buddha temple in Asia. It was extremely sad to see people worshipping a dead idol. In particular disheartening was to see parents with ill children giving their whole month’s wages to Buddha to heal the children. Knowing that that will never happen.
The other sad reality is if we reject the resurrection of Christ, we are actually rejecting the Trinity. If you reject the Trinity, you will not see the kingdom of God. We are saved by grace. All other religions believe you are saved by works or are reincarnated to become acceptable to their gods. They do not have surety of faith as their gods will decide whether their good deeds and offerings will be enough. I wonder what would have happened to me if I was born in Asia.
Working in Asia for quite a long time, impressed upon me how fortunate we in the West are to have heard the Gospel and made the choice to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. I stood many times where I could observe people and look at their eyes. Eyes are the window of one’s soul. Most of these non-Christian believers have what I term “dead” eyes. No sparkle of hope.
Once I was in Phuket for a working assignment. When I drove through Phuket I sensed evil. I did not know why I had this feeling. They organized a tour that night for the “foreigners” to visit Phuket. I did not go and also advised my Christian employees not to go. They did not listen and went. The next morning they were sorry that they went. The place is quite evil with she-men, sexual promiscuity, etc. Back at the hotel, one other member of the team did not go and when he saw me, he came to talk to me about some issues he had and wanted advice. I spent the evening with him and was able to give him advice and encouragement. A far better way of spending the evening in Phuket.
On the next day, Sunday, I did not work as it is a holy day for me. All the others worked on the new system we introduced. I went to the beach and sat alone on this beautiful beach. I can still remember saying to God I first want to swim otherwise my thoughts would not focus on Him alone. I took my Bible, surveyed the beauty of the nature that 6 months prior had the Tsunami devastate the island. It recovered so much that you could hardly see the damage.
I also noticed that many people had t-shirts on which stated the trauma they went through. Bird flu, tsunami, and many others and then the words “what next”. To me the answer was Christ. But to them it was a dark future. On top of it the locals could not speak English. This was heartbreaking to me as I could not proclaim the Gospel of the living Christ. Sitting on the beach, looking at the beauty of nature, it was if God spoke to me and said: If only they would worship the Creator God. My visit was very traumatic as I realized that most of them were lost to the Kingdom.
Wat should our foundation of faith be?
The Christian belief is very unique. Our foundation is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. That is what makes our faith unique and should be the solid foundation we build our life on.
Romans 10:8-10 - 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 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. 10 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.
1 Peter 1:3-5 - 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
John 11:24-26 - 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Luke 20:35-36 - 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.
We have seen the development over the last few years in which people doubt:
· The birth of Christ through a virgin and the Holy Spirit
· Jesus was not the son of God
· That Jesus did not die but was in a coma whilst there are irrefutable proof that he was dead
· That He was not raised from the dead although Jesus appeared to His disciples and about 500 people.
· That the miracles of the Ark, red sea, etc. did not happen.
The unfortunate reality is that they are denying Christ and His atonement of sin. They will not see the Kingdom of God.
What does this give us as Christians who believe in the resurrection?
· It proves the deity of Christ
In the Old Testament Israel had to do animal sacrifices on a regular basis for the forgiveness of sins. That is because animals were not the sacrifice that would take away sin forever.
Hebrews 10:4 - 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
1 Samuel 1:21 - 21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow,
Leviticus 23:37-38 - 37 (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38
These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.
The perfect sacrifice would have to be a person that was:
o Fully man
o Fully God
o Sinless
This was the case with Jesus Christ. He met all the criteria of the perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews 2:16-18 - 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[a] fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 7:22-28 - 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is able to save completely[a] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Romans 3:22-26 - 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 10:8-11 - 8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
Hebrews 9:22-27 - 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
· We have a rock solid foundation that will not change, irrespective of circumstances
Hebrews 13:8- 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Psalm 90 - 1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
· We are assure of everlasting life
John 3:16 - 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.
· Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the Father as our advocate
Matthew 26:64 - “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 16:19 - 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
Romans 8:34 - Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Ephesians 1:18-21 - 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
· Our sins are forgiven
Matthew 26:28 - This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 5:20 - When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Ephesians 1:4-8 - 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
Hebrews 9:22 - In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 10:15-18 - 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” +18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
· We can have joy and peace in Who we believe in
Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 8:2 - In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
Philippians 4:4-7 - 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
· Even if we have trials and tribulations, our faith will grow
James 1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Matthew 5:11-12 - 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
1 Peter 1:6-7 - 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
· We are assured of our own resurrection
Romans 8:10-11 - 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[a] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[b] his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 6:4-6 - 4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with Him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Personal note:
I will hold onto the resurrectio
n of Christ as my foundation. Because of His resurrection I am assured of life after death. I will be raised from death with Him to spend eternity with Him. I have nothing to lose but everything to gain by God’s grace.
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