1 Corinthians 15:19-22

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
1 Corinthians 15:19-22


Yesterday at work one of my co-workers, who knows that I do a scripture of the day, asked me to pick out a scripture for her daughter to read at her grandmother's funeral.  I gave her three choices, and this was one of them.  Later yesterday I got a phone call from a friend whose mother had died.  She was trying to be tough and stick to business, but it wasn't working.  Death is a hard thing to deal with here on Earth, because it creates distance.  We're still taking the test, and our friend is walking out of the testing center.  Maybe they are going to grab the car and wait for us... maybe they are going to go save a table at our favorite restaurant... or maybe they are going home to pop some popcorn so we can watch a movie together... but no matter what, the time between now and then can be hard for the one left behind.  One of the biggest comforts that we have in this life is the surety that we will see them again... after we finish our test.  Christ did that for us.  I think that it is interesting that the scripture says "if in this life only" ... does that mean that we have hope only for things that he has done for us that we can perceive in this life, or does it mean that we have to keep having hope after we are dead?  probably both... but whether we only have hope, or we achieve a sure knowledge after this life, I think that allowing ourselves to see beyond this life, and hope for more than temporal (and temporary) happiness is a necessity.  God gives us what we desire... and if we truly desire only earthly things, we'll get them... but we will be miserable in the end... because death comes to all of us, and whatever our sustenance on earth, it won't be enough to fill our hunger of soul in the eternities.  Because of Christ, we all get to live forever... :) that isn't in question.  it's our quality of life... and who we get to hang out with... that is in question. :)  So, today... try to see the long view, and prepare for a very long (eternal) and happy life...