What do you believe about the resurrection? Do you believe you will be raised after dying? Do you believe it means the body you currently have will be raised? Do you believe you will never die? Do you take Jesus at His word?
There are a variety of beliefs about the resurrection. Some believe there will be a resurrection of their current body at some future date. They believe until then they will go into a holding place. Upon resurrection, they believe they will go to heaven.
Others believe they never die. Oh, they believe their physical body dies, but their spirit lives on. They believe they go to be with Jesus in heaven immediately upon the death of their physical body. They believe they will be given different, perfect, spiritual bodies as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:42-43.
When Lazarus died, his sisters were distressed. They believed that he would not have died had Jesus been there. They believe Jesus would have healed him. When Jesus shows up, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days, they were both glad to see Him and likely a little bitter that He had waited so long to come.
Jesus made a statement to Martha, saying that Lazarus would rise again. Martha said she believed he would in the resurrection. Jesus then tells her that He is the resurrection. What does Jesus mean by this? We find later in Scripture (Revelation 1:4) that Jesus is referenced as the firstborn from the dead, which means He was the first to be resurrected. As we read through Revelation, we find there is a continual resurrection of Jesus’ followers. So, Jesus was telling Martha we continue living, even if our physical bodies die. Do you believe you will never die? Jesus has said that is the case, if we believe in Him.
I pray we all choose to believe Jesus. I pray we choose to believe we will be given perfect bodies. I pray each one of us believes we will continue living, even after our physical bodies die. Believe Jesus. Take Him at His word. Believe you will be given a perfect body. Believe you will live forever.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Marty Pressey 