holy-monday

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. - Daniel 12:2-3

Ecclesiastes teaches there is a time for everything (Ecc.3:1-8). Just as everything has a time and an ending point, so will we. The question is where will we go? Daniel 12:2-3 shows that in the end, there will be the final judgment where the Lord will judge the living and the dead. Jesus teaches this same thing in Matthew 25, where on the last day he will separate the righteous to go into the Kingdom of their Father, but the wicked into the eternal fire.

Left to ourselves, this last day is bad news for us because we all deserve the latter. But this is good news for us because of the blood of Jesus. Because of Christ’s love for us, he paid for our sins at the cross and rose from the dead. Because death did not overpower him, we can trust death will not overpower us who trust in him. His resurrection is the first fruit of our resurrection (1Cor. 15:20). He goes before us. And because he lives, we can face tomorrow.

Christian, be reminded this week that because Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26), we will shine like stars, reigning with King Jesus forever and ever. That is infinitely exciting! If you are not a Christian, the Bible says that eternity is written in our hearts (Ecc.3:11). What that means is we have an underlying sense that we are going somewhere. When we deny it we are being dishonest with ourselves. Everyone has a destination. Where will you go? Trust in Jesus, and that last day will no longer be something to dread but to hope for.

Song: Because He Lives