It’s a Pitiful Life, part 2 April 11, 2010
If the resurrection is a lie,Christians are pathetic. If this life is all we’ve got, Christianity is worsethan false; it’s tragic. “If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we aremore to be pitied than anyone in the world” (1 Cor 15:19 NLT). Why would Paulsay that? Doesn’t he know that Jesus offers peace, joy, meaning, prosperity,and everything else that makes up your best life now? Apparently not.
Now if there is noresurrection… why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day—I meanthat, brothers…. If the deadare not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 1 Cor 15:29-32NIV
Notice what made Paul’s lifeso pitiable: he endangered himself every hour and died every day. Why?Apparently because he believed in the resurrection. Because Paul believed inlife after death, he willingly chose suffering and self-denial rather than easeand pleasure—“eat[ing] and drink[ing], for tomorrow we die.” (cf. also Phil3:7-11; Col 1:24)
So here’s our answer: the Christian lifeis pitiful without the resurrection because it’s supposed to be a life of chosensuffering and self-denial. Paul didn’t see his Christianity as the key tophysical comforts and pleasures in this life. Instead, he saw it as a call tosuffer—the type of life that would have been utterly foolish and pitiable ifthere were no resurrection into the joyful presence of Christ.
Think about it for yourself. Would the lifestyleyou have chosen as a Christian be utterly foolish if there is no resurrection? Wouldthe suffering and self-denial you have freely chosen for the cause of Christ bepathetic if you don’t actually get to heaven when you die?