Author: Dana

In November of 2001, my mom’s mother passed away. She was 94. This past Sunday, on Mother’s Day, my dad’s mom died. She was 103. What a blessing to have grandparents live such full lives. Had they not lived, I would not have lived. “Precious memories… how they linger… how they ever flood my soul.”

As we age, it becomes more and more evident that these bodies are not made to last forever. At the funeral home this week, it was exciting to think of the “new bodies” that will come to those who are in Christ. Jesus, Himself, received such a resurrection body when He rose on the third day, and the Scripture says we will be like Him. Such a body will be full of power and glory. It will never perish.

I Corinthians 15 is an incredible chapter about the resurrection of Christ and what it means to us. Though I don’t understand all Paul discusses, I do gain great hope. Here are a few thoughts from this chapter:

What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body…

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…

As was the earthly man (Adam), so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven (Jesus), so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

So I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 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 be true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. I Corithians 15:36-58

Three years ago this August the doctor told us I had cancer. As he talked about starting treatment immediately, I asked what I considered to be a pretty good question: “What if I don’t do anything?” The answer was rather sobering: “You’ll have about three months to live.” The doctor could have put it this way: “You shall surely perish.”

We don’t use the word “perish” too often (unless we’re talking about fruit), but it was a common word for Jesus and His spokesmen. “Unless you repent, you will perish.” I wonder if such words were as powerful to Jesus’ listeners as my doctor’s message was to me. If the Word of the Lord went forth today saying, “Time is short! Repent or perish!”, I wonder what people would say.

I don’t guess I need to wonder what people would say, we know. “Quit trying to scare us with such nonsense! Alarmists have said ‘the end is near’ for generations, but time goes on.” What brings a response to a hard message? I only went through chemotherapy because I believed I had cancer, perhaps repentance only comes when someone believes there is a need.

I started to write that the most important thing is “what one believes”, but such a statement falls short. The most important thing is “what is true”. People may argue with the notion that time is short, but what is true? None of us have a guarantee of tomorrow. None of us know our final hour. The important matter is this: Do I need to repent? God wants me to know the truth. May we seek His face.

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heaven existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. II Peter 2:3-9

Why does Jesus tell us to remember Lot’s wife? (Luke 17:32) Do you think God simply gave a rule of “don’t look back” or did He know that such looking would reflect what was really in a heart?

Perhaps Lot’s wife could not take her mind off the comforts and pleasures she was leaving behind. “My comfortable home! My lovely garden! My beautiful neighborhood! My old friends! Can’t I just look back one time?” God’s answer was ‘no’ and He tells us the same. “Get your heart off your stuff. Get your mind off your pleasures. Focus only on Me and love Me with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.”

We pity those lands where it is difficult to be a Christian. Some of those believers live in constant danger. Some have difficulty feeding their families because their “faith” prevents them from good jobs. In our land, it often seems easy to be a Christian. So who longs most for the Lord? Some may possess so much on this earth that it is difficult to imagine how Heaven could offer more. Others see this world offering nothing, so they watch and pray and long for the Day. No matter where we live, Jesus wants our Hope to be Himself. “Be prepared. When I call, drop everything you’re doing, leave all behind, and don’t look back. Remember Lot’s wife!”

Let this warning convict us! If I’m not consumed with Him, I should find out why. Is there something on this earth that is more precious? If I don’t love Him with all my heart, God forbid I pretend… instead let me confess! “Lord, you know my heart. Expose it now… before the Day of Reckoning. Forgive me for putting other things ahead of You. Turn my eyes to Jesus! Give me passion for Him! I need your mercy and grace. Lord, don’t let me be Lot’s wife!”

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation…” II Corinthians 7:10