Benjamin Franklin, the noted American scientist, inventor, philosopher and statesman once wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”  (Franklin, 1789)

Those words are as true today as they were when they were written in 1789. Taxes are something we can deal with if we are reasonably careful with our money, but death it seems is an inevitable evil for us all.

The bible reveals that only one man has broken the inevitability of death in a final sense – Jesus Christ. He rose to everlasting, perfect life on the third day after his crucifixion and his burial in the tomb.

But what, if anything, does the resurrection of Jesus mean for us? The bible has the answer: “But now is Christ risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20 NKJV)

As in agriculture, “firstfruits” implies that a main harvest is to follow. So, the writer goes on to say, “For as in Adam all die even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (v. 22). The word “all” is qualified by the next verse: “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward those who are Christ’s at his coming.” (v. 23)

These words tell us that:

1. Christ is going to return to this earth

2. That at his return he is going to raise some to life again

But who are those who Christ will raise to life again? He said this: “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:14) What did he command his friends to do? The answer is in some of his last words to his disciples (friends) before he went up into heaven: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel (gospel literally means ‘good news’) to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)

So, death is not the final end for those who "are Christ's" when he returns, if they believe and act upon the gospel contained in God’s bible.

It is surely a book well worth reading.

Reference: Franklin,B. (1789). Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, 13 November. [Letter]. University of Pennsylvania Almanac. Vol. 66 l16 Available from: https://almanac.upenn.edu/articles/friday-the-13th. [Access 5 December 2023].