Devotion - Monday, October 28

I don't often write about our resurrection.  This morning's reading from I Corinthians 15:30-41 is at least one of the reasons.  Paul speaks of the resurrection, but he is very careful not to allow his readers to understand it as more of the best of what we have here.  He writes, "what you sow is not the body which is to be."  It is a different body; the same way that the plant which grows is different from the seed that was planted.

It is important that I do not shake your confidence in what you have come to believe regarding the resurrection.  As a result, I tend to say little.  This can lead to the false impression that the resurrection is unimportant; or less meaningful.  This is not the case, but talk of resurrection should not be allowed to overshadow discussion of life in the world we now share.

More of the best of what we have now might contribute to the false notion that what we do now does not matter.  

More of the best of what we have now may reduce the lives we are living to a test or proving ground.

The two-session discussion at our Tuesday night bible study about incarnation was aimed at correcting such notions.  The Christian story is one in which God comes to share this life; not a story in which God finds some way to extract us from this world.

Quite honestly - I don't know what my existence will be like in the resurrection.  I like what Joseph Sittler said to us at the seminary, "The life that God has already given me is so good that I cannot imagine that the next life will be anything short of wonderful."  This affirmation acknowledges the beauty and wonder and excitement about the life I am living now.  It is in living this life fully that I begin to approximate what life might be like in the life to come.