| If Our Hope Were Only For This Life |
| TUESDAY May 7, 2019 |
| “And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.” – 1 Corinthians 15:19-20 |
| The LONG and Short of it |
| I have heard some people say that even if Christianity isn’t true, it is still a good way to live and still gives people hope, as if nothing would be lost if we died and found out it weren’t true. On the surface I guess that seems true, if Christianity just means I am nice to people, read Bible verses that make me feel good, and keep living my life pretty much how I want to. However, that flies in the face of what the Bible actually says. If Christ has not risen, if heaven is not true, then we Christians are to be pitied more than anyone else in the world! Why? I think that this verse is assuming that we are putting so much time, energy, money, resources, and effort into obeying Christ, sacrificially loving others, and telling people about God, that if it were not true, people would say of our lives, “What a waste!” Yet we are sure that this is true! We are banking everything on the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and that everything He said is true. If it were not, coming to Papua New Guinea, missing family and friends, risking health and happiness, everything we are doing and everything we are sacrificing is worthless. I would not look back at my life and say, “That’s ok. It was still a good life.” I would say, “What a waste! Poor me!” But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead! And He’s just the first, with all who believe in Him to follow. This is the greatest news. This earthly life is way too short and way too sad for this to be all we are living for. That’s why we are here in PNG- so that people can know: this life is not all there is! That’s why we celebrated Easter last month, and that’s why we are thankful that you all, our supporters, have sent us here. Currently we are packing up our house and getting ready to move to the nearby center. Please pray for us as, even though we are excited about what is ahead, transitions are always hard. Till all know, Matt, Karissa, Ty, and Wyck Please Pray: – For our transition to the new center – Ty will visit the MK school soon. Please pray that he likes it and will be excited about going there next year. – That God will continue to lead and guide, and fill our hearts with His peace and joy Praise God: – He continues to provide for our needs – He is at work in PNG! |
