Here is an excerpt from the Introduction of RESURRECTION: The BIG Picture of God’s Purpose and Your Destiny…
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“If we find ourselves with a desire which nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” - C.S. Lewis, British Novelist, Christian Apologist
I find it interesting that most of us don’t bat an eye when scientists and futurists talk about humanity’s pursuit of life after death, by way of technology. We spend millions of dollars each year on medicines to extend our lifespans and spend even more on cryogenic equipment to preserve the human body after death, until a future time when we can be revived by advanced technology. Billions are also being spent on ways to circumvent death altogether by merging human and machine. This is called Transhumanism. One such method being pursued is the digitizing of the human brain in order to transplant a person’s mind into another body, whether human or machine. It would seem that science and technology are catching up to science fiction, all in a quest for resurrection and immortality. Yet, dare to suggest that an all-powerful, triune God created us and will resurrect us to life eternal, at a future point in history after we physically die, and many will scoff at the idea.
But where does the longing for youth and eternal life come from? We all want to live forever. No one really desires to die—unless they are facing overwhelmingly painful and debilitating adversity. However, is it possible that the human race was created to live forever, but somewhere in the distant past something went horribly wrong? And what about our longing for utopia? Every culture on the planet seeks peace and prosperity in their own way, yet turmoil and conflict continually frustrate our best efforts. Where does this longing for a better future come from?
I believe the best explanation to these questions is found in the Bible. Now, you may be thinking, “The Bible is an ancient book!” However, old does not mean irrelevant. We are not random accidents of an indifferent universe.Quite the contrary; it is the purpose of the universe to birth each one of us into the Presence of God. And everything about this purpose and our longings for immortality and utopia hinges on the following truth:
“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” - 1 Corinthians 15: 16-26
We were created to live forever! The Bible declares that our ability to do so revolves around the person of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He created the world and holds the universe together by his own power. If that wasn’t amazing enough, he also wrapped himself in human flesh and lived among us—ultimately sacrificing his life to save us from the power of evil, sin, death and hell. The Bible also declares that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself.” The purpose of this reconciliation is to destroy the works of evil, restore a broken relationship, and to give us an eternal future where we can live forever with God. Doesn’t this sound like the answer to our longing for life and paradise?
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Allen Paul Weaver III is the author of RESURRECTION: The BIG Picture of God’s Purpose and Your Destiny and The Resurrection Life: A 40 Day Journey with Jesus. Both seek to unpack the Story of our creation, purpose and destiny. Both are available on amazon.com. Find out more about his books and him at www.TheResurrectionLife.com.