Forever Alive (2)

I was recently having a conversation about eternity. We imagined what it would be like. The preacher D. L. Moody, when he thought about eternity said,

You know we are all the time coming to the end of things here—the end of the week, the end of the month, the end of the year, the end of school days. It is end, end, end all the time. But, thank God, He is going to satisfy us with long life; no end to it, an endless life. Dwight L. Moody*[1]

It’s Easter Sunday! We come together today to celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ was greater than death and that because of Him, we can be confident in eternity.

“Christianity without the resurrection is not simply Christianity without its final chapter. It is not Christianity at all.”

J.C. Ryle was an English bishop, writer, and evangelist who had a way with words. While considering life, death, and eternity he said…

Death, and judgment, and eternity are not fancies, but stern realities. Make time to think about them. Stand still, and look them in the face. You will be obliged one day to make time to die, whether you are prepared or not. J. C. Ryle[2]

I used to think about eternity as forever long but the more I think about it I’ve grown to think about eternity as forever now - a forever laugh, a forever joy, forever peace, a forever hug, and forever with Christ. Tomorrow doesn’t matter, they are infinite. The now’s matter and can be fully enjoyed.

I’m glad to have this time together this morning to consider eternity, especially for those who believe in Jesus Christ because, as we will see, eternity is secured for us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Great News! He Lives!

Jesus lives!

Matthew 28:1–10 NIV

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

We are unified this morning by our faith/knowledge that Jesus rose from the grave. I don’t intend to try to convince anyone this morning that it is true (although the evidence is astounding). I’d really like to simply enjoy discussing the implications of the Resurrection for the next few minutes.

His Resurrection Assures Us

Jesus Is the Messiah

Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed that your back was up against a wall? Maybe it was at the hands of an abuser, an enemy soldier, or a bully. In those situations we need heroes powerful enough to rescue us. Listen to this story of a little 6 year old boy in the northern jungles of the Philippines.

…, a tall, pale white man stumbled into my home village … in the northern jungles of the Philippine Island of Luzon. The man didn’t speak our language, so our elders asked him the best they knew how, “Why are you here?”

“I’ve come to learn your language,” he said. “I’d like to write it down and then give you God’s Word in your language.”

We started teaching this man, Dick Roe, our language. Maybe his God could free us from the spirits.

When I was about thirteen, Dick had to return to the United States to raise support for his ministry. Before he left, he translated the gospel of Mark and gave me a copy. Sitting on top of a rock, I read the gospel of Mark in my heart language. It felt like I was actually there, seeing the characters.

The further I read, the more distressed I felt. A mob of people came to get Jesus out of the garden of Gethsemane. What did he do wrong? They accused him of all kinds of false things. They mocked him, spat on him, beat him, and took him before Pilate. Then came the scourge and the crown of thorns. It was excruciating to read that they forced him to carry a wooden cross and then nailed him to it.

Deep in my heart, a hatred of God swelled. I shook my fist and shouted, “I hate you, God, for being so powerless! Why should I believe in a powerless God like you?” I threw the gospel of Mark down to the rocks and started walking home. I couldn’t understand why God wouldn’t protect his own Son. Our headhunters defended us to the death. Because of them, no one could touch us. I wanted a god like that, someone who would protect me from the spirits that demanded we sacrifice our cows, chickens, pigs, and dogs. This God didn’t even save his own Son.

Suddenly God reached down into my heart. “Nard, don’t you understand?” I heard him say. “That’s how much I love you. I gave my Son on your behalf.” For the first time, I understood grace. I understood how much God loved me.

“God, if you love me that much,” I prayed, “I want to give you my life, my heart. It’s all yours.” I went back and began to read further in Mark. I read that Jesus rose from the grave on the third day. Nobody in all of Dibagat, nobody from among the Isnag people, had ever risen from the grave. The resurrection story changed my life.[3]

As the Messiah, Jesus did what no one else could have done. The Israelites had their champions- Moses, Sampson, Gideon, David, Benaiah. They had their fathers – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They had their empires – Saul, David, and Solomon. They had their prophets – Elijah, Elisha, and Jeremiah. But none of them could do what the Messiah would do – become the Resurrection and the Life. The Resurrection validates the divinity of Jesus.

The Consequences of the Fall Are Reversed

Adam and Eve fell. Perfect beings, created in God’s image, exercised their God-given will to make poor choices. Eve, tempted by Satan, fell first, then offered the forbidden fruit to Adam (Genesis 3:1-8). It appears that Eve was deceived, but Adam knew what he was doing (1 Timothy 2:14). Someone has said, “Eve fell; Adam jumped.”

Theology calls this original sin. It originated in the human heart, setting a pattern for all sin to follow: People sin when they are so selfish. They put their desires above God’s.

In some way this original sin affected/infected all of mankind. Theologians have used the term “original sin” to refer to the state of each of us when born. It is also called a sin nature.

The sin nature is greatly debated by theologians. What’s important is the Bible clearly says we are all sinners. We all make the decision to give in to sin: “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12, NKJV). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Resurrection is a pivotal doctrine in the NT. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is presented as the central event of history. It is the fulfillment of OT prophecy and teaching and the most important sign that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 2:32–36; 13:33; Rom. 1:3–4; 1 Cor. 15:12). It represents a reversal of the consequences of the fall brought about by Adam and Eve.[4]

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 NIV

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

The Resurrection confirmed that Jesus was God – eternal, unchangeable, all-powerful, holy, and worthy of all praise.

Forever is Yours

S.M. Lockridge, the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, famously praised God with the message “That’s My King! Do You Know Him?” After describing Him as King, His blessings, and His character, he concludes with these words:

I wish I could describe Him to you, but…He’s indescribable. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. Her irresistible.

Dr. Lockridge paused and then began again…

Well, you can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him. And you can't live without Him.The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him.

Yea!, that's my King, that's my King. Father. "Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory. Forever and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And when you get through with all the forever’s then AMEN and AMEN!

That’s my King, do you know Him?

Can You Believe It?

Many grieving people ask ministers at a funeral where their loved ones are. They also want to be comforted by the knowledge that their loved one will be seen again in heaven and death had come unexpectedly to their loved one. At the death of Lazarus, Jesus guaranteed Forever Alive to those who believed in Him.

John 11:23–26 NIV

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

The Apostle Paul encouraged a group of confused Christians in Corinth

1 Corinthians 15:51–54 NIV

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

F. B. Meyer explains the interest that we have with the eternal,

God has set Eternity in our heart, and man's infinite capacity cannot be filled or satisfied with the things of time and sense. – F. B. Meyer

Resurrection Demands Transformation

Eternity is unavoidable. We were designed to be eternal.

In the 2007 film The Bucket List, two terminally ill men—played by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman—take a road trip to do the things they always said they would do before they “kicked the bucket.” Before the film’s release, Nicholson was interviewed by Parade magazine. Reflecting on his personal life, Nicholson said, “I used to live so freely. The mantra for my generation was ‘Be your own man!’ I always said, ‘Hey, you can have whatever rules you want—I’m going to have mine. I’ll accept the guilt. I’ll pay the check. I’ll do the time.’ I chose my own way. That was my philosophical position well into my fifties. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve had to adjust.”

But reality has a way of getting the attention of even Jack Nicholson. Later in the interview, he adds, “We all want to go on forever, don’t we? We fear the unknown. Everybody goes to that wall, yet nobody knows what’s on the other side. That’s why we fear death.”[5]

There is a place of “stepping off and stepping into” that we will all face. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is evidence that “Forever Alive” is one of two options – Heaven or hell. We don’t get any more.

Jesus dealt with a lot of nonsense when He was on the earth. On one occasion the Sadducees who didn’t believe in the Resurrection presented him a puzzle of a woman who had been married 7 times. They created a puzzle to try to disprove the Resurrection. Jesus blew their argument to bits:

Mark 12:24–27 NIV

Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Jesus is the God of the living, not the dead that is why the Christian Church rejoices today. Because Eternity in Heaven is available. Choose to believe today!

[1]Elliot Ritzema and Elizabeth Vince, eds., 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013). [2]Elliot Ritzema and Elizabeth Vince, eds., 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013). [3]Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 109–110. [4]David Rolph Seely, “Resurrection,” ed. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 1121. [5]Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 249.

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