Through a resurrection of the dead, God promises to reunite us with loved ones and offer eternal life to all. Eventually God's plan will lead to death itself being destroyed in an awesome future almost beyond our comprehension!
Death has always been humanity's enemy. It brings loneliness, sadness,
disorientation. But it need not be a mystery nor be entirely devastating.
Even though it is inevitable, death is not the end. Though at times death
seems unfair and arbitrary, it does not thwart God's plan for eternal life.
Through a resurrection God will reunite us with family and friends and
extend His promises to all who have ever lived.
Eventually there will come a time when death itself will be banished.
Writing about the resurrection that will take place when Jesus returns,
Paul paraphrased from the book of Hosea: "For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed
up in victory.' 'O Death, where is your sting? O Hades [grave] where is
your victory?'" (1 Corinthians 15:53-55). Death will be swallowed up and
defeated in the victory of eternal life.
Holding on to this view of the future can give us hope and optimism at
a time of great loss. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who have fallen asleep [died], lest you sorrow as others
who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
A future beyond our wildest hopes
Some people are put off by the thought of eternal life. Some feel this
life is painful and difficult enough, so why would anyone want to live
forever? Others may think that eternity sounds vague and uninteresting,
that if it means they have to give up pleasure in this lifetime it just
isn't worth the effort. They would rather experience all the good times
they can for now and worry about eternity some other time.
