DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY March 28, 2024
Two Possible Resurrections
A resurrected body and eternity in Jesus’ presence await all who trust in His sacrifice.
Therefore, Jesus answered and was saying to them, ``Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. ``For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. ``For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. ``For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. ``Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. ``Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. ``For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. ``Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. John 5:19-29
Death is certain for everyone (except believers who are alive when Christ returns). The end of our earthly life may seem far away or, for some, right around the corner, but it’s always lurking, and we never know when it will come. This may seem like a morbid thought, but the truth is, death doesn’t end our existence. Contrary to the false belief that life ceases when we die, Jesus said there will be a resurrection of all people—some to judgment and others to eternal life.
Here’s the important question: Which resurrection will you experience? Since everyone is sinful, we all deserve to face the resurrection to judgment. However, Jesus promised that those who believe in Him have eternal life and will not be judged for sin (John 5:24). On the cross, Christ bore our judgment for us and rose again to give us new life. But those who reject the sacrifice He made on their behalf will be judged for their own sins.
Although physical death is still a reality for believers and our bodies will be laid in the grave, our spirits will never die. When Christ returns, our souls will be reunited with glorious resurrection bodies, to live forever with Him.
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