The theme of 1 Corinthians 15 is the glorious truth of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the resurrection life that all who believe will share with Him.

If our hope is limited to what we can do or become in this world, we will be disappointed. But Jesus has risen to a glorious new life, and He is the firstfruits! A glorious new life lies ahead of all who belong to Him, and in this chapter, Paul is giving us a little glimpse of the resurrection life that we will share with Christ.

Earlier in his letter, Paul said, “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him’—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:9-10).

God has prepared a resurrection life that every Christian will one day share with Jesus. But we are told here that no one has ever seen or heard of the things that God has prepared for us. In fact, no one has ever even imagined what God has prepared for us. So, no Christian should expect to read about the resurrection life and say, “Ah, I get it now. It’s all perfectly clear to me.”

What Jesus has prepared for us is so great that it is beyond our capacity to grasp. We can’t take in the full brightness of the sun. But we can all see something of its brilliance and enjoy living in its heat and its light.

Make it your prayer that you will see enough of the glory and joy of your future life to gain strength and anticipation as you press on in following and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

As long as you feel that this life is all you have, you will feel that you have to hold on to it and preserve it for yourself. But if you truly come to believe in the resurrection, you will feel that you can spend your life, and if need be, lay down your life, in serving God by serving others.

• Who will be ready to endure hardship so that the gospel will be taken to the ends of the earth? Those who truly believe that there will be a resurrection.
• Who will see the wealth they acquire as a trust to be stewarded for the advance of the gospel and the good of others? Those who truly believe there will be a resurrection.
• Who will awaken from their stupor and quit sinning? Those who truly believe there will be a resurrection.
• Who will show grace and forgiveness? Who will pursue peace in this world of hostility and conflict? Those who truly believe that there will be a resurrection.

Believing in the resurrection will shape how you live. Are you living in a way that is fitting for a person who believes in the resurrection? If someone were to examine your life; your priorities, your diary, and your bank accounts, would they conclude that you are living for this life only? Or would it be clear that you are preparing for life in the world to come?

What would an examination of your life—your priorities, diary and bank accounts—say about what you are living for?

When you look at the good that has been done in this world over the centuries, you will find that a large part of it has been done by people who believe that they are preparing for a world to come—hospitals built, schools opened, children fostered.

Believing in the resurrection will shape how you live. Here is a glimpse of how the apostle Paul lived: he was “in danger every hour” (15:30), and he “die[d] every day!” (15:31). Some people say, “Even if there was no heaven, Christianity would still be the best way to live.” But Paul would say, “No, not for me!”

This man gave up a comfortable life to take the gospel to people who were often hostile and violent. He served people who were often ungrateful, unfaithful, and unresponsive. He stuck with it, facing days without food, nights without sleep, and constant exposure to danger. What in the world could motivate someone to live like this? The knowledge that our time here is short, and that God is preparing us for life in another world.

If there is no resurrection, what did Paul gain by living such a life (15:32)? Paul is telling us, “I would not dream of living as I do if I was not wholly convinced that there will be a resurrection. The reason I live as I do is that Christ has been raised. And that means that I too will rise. An endless life in a world of joy lies ahead of me.”

How is your belief in the resurrection shaping the way you live?