S157P5 – Life after death: a second chance
1 Cor. 15:19-25
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
Life has come to us twice. The first time life appeared, it was created by the hand of God and given breath by his breath. The Godhead created humankind in their image, and that life was perfect. Those fortunate two who lived in the garden of Eden walked with God in that place. The animals were not in enmity with them, and work was fruitful but not a toil. God’s design was for a perfect purpose, and it lasted for a short time initially. In his love and grace, He gave us the choice to love him in return. To our detriment, we chose something else. That choice would bring death because life cannot exist without the God who created it. To choose something other than God is to choose death.
God brought life, but we chose death. Now we are born into death, but there exists again a choice. Christ, who is the second Adam, brought life into the world so that death would be defeated once and for all. Again, this is not a matter of compulsion. The Lord does not require that we follow him. The Lord does not force us to accept this gracious sacrifice and gift of new life. This is still a choice. We have the option to accept this life as we receive it, imperfect and fallen, and to reject God and his truth. That choice does not change our spiritual condition. It leaves us in the default state of death, but it still is a choice. The other choice is Christ and a second opportunity at life.
The Lord wants us to want to be with him. He wants us to choose him because we desire the life He offers. He wants us to open our eyes and realize that He has available for us a perfect life which is no less perfect than the one we first received in the garden. Some will say that they never chose death because they were born into it. The truth is that each of us has a choice to remain as we are or to accept the opportunity to be made like him. God loves us so greatly that He could not just let death reign but gave us this lifeline by sacrificing himself. Father, thank You for desiring us so much that You would give us a second chance to choose to love You and live.