September 6

Are you ready? In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul lays out for us in great detail what awaits us all.

He compares each of us to a seed, a seed that will one day be "planted" when we each breathe our last. Death is unavoidable. Of every mystery that still remains, of every question that remains unanswered, of every perplexing conundrum that remains elusive, death has a clarity that is unmistakeable. We understand death, we know death, we await death. Here, the Apostle Paul defines death. It is a planting. Are you ready to be planted? Not do you hope for a death that is soon but is the seed of your life ready to planted in the sense that it is ready to grow?

In verses 42-57, we learn that we all inherit from Adam this natural body of ours. However, only Jesus has the power to enable this "seed" to produce the fruit of a heavenly body that will last forever. Can you imagine planting a garden and with the seeds came instruction that something needed to be planted with the seeds in order for them to be transformed into something living, fruit bearing and you chose not to add the something? Would you be surprised when nothing grew? Would you complain? Here in 1 Corinthians 15, we are reminded that Jesus must be added to the seed of our lives if there is any hope of us being transformed into the heavenly bodies that are to live with God in heaven for all eternity. Are you ready? Have you added Jesus to your life?

Verse 57 says, " But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." The word Lord is key. Many people believe that Jesus lived, that He is God's Son, that He even died for our sins, that His teachings were of God...but is He their Lord? Verse 45 refers to Jesus at the last Adam, the One who is a life giving spirit. Has He given you such life? Unless there is a moment that you can identify where you made a vow of devotion to Jesus, when you gave your life fully to Him, when you surrendered all of who you are to Him, when He became Lord, the supreme ruler of your existence, then you are not ready to be planted!

The Apostle Paul continues. He gives us two very important tests for a person who has sincerely made a vow of devotion to Jesus. In verse 34 he notes that we must stop sinning, an honest effort to stop doing the things we know in our heart are displeasing to God, and in verse 58 he notes that we must enthusiastically take up the work of doing the things that we know in our heart are pleasing to God. Are you ready to be planted?

I do not hope for a death that is soon coming, but I am expectant and confident that my seed is ready to be planted and the heavenly body that my eternal self longs to fill is promised to me because I am promised to Christ!

Pastor Fred