What You Believe Matters 10 – Not Living for the Dash
We have been talking about the Apostle’s Creed for the last nine weeks. In those weeks we learned that who we believe God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are does make a difference in our lives. Then what it means to be in a church and celebrating communion as time to remember what Jesus did for us. Today the creed winds up talking about where these beliefs lead us and how our beliefs change the way we live.
The Creed leads us to think about what our lives are truly made of and what they will eventually be defined. When we die, they eventually sum up our lives in a couple of dates and a dash. Many times, our lives are wrapped up in that dash. We put a ton of effort to make that dash full of life and adventure. I am not saying that it is wrong to put all we have into that dash; we just cannot stop there. It is because of the next lines of the Creed that we realize there is more to life than that dash.
The creed flows into a line that reads: I believe in “the resurrection of the body.” That statement alone tells us that when we physically die, we will not die spiritually. I know I’m going deep with these thoughts but stick with me and maybe we can get a handle on that dash extending into eternity. We are born with a physical body that gets sick, gets tired and eventually gives up. Death is batting a thousand when it comes to our physical lives. We all leave this world one day sooner or later. Paul wrote about this resurrection in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 15. Those verses read: Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those Christians who have died so you will not be sad, as others who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and that he rose again. So, because of him, God will raise with Jesus those who have died. What we tell you now is the Lord’s own message. We who are living when the Lord comes again will not go before those who have already died.
Paul taught us that believers who have died will once again be alive when this is all said and done. This is another one of those mysteries that we do not understand on this side of the end. The resurrection of the body is something that I do not completely understand. I wonder what age we will be on that day. Will we look like we do here? Will we know each other, be married or recognize each other? Those are questions that will only be answered on the day we arrive in that new life. It will quite a new adventure for those of us who believe in God’s salvation and trust in His love for us.
The Creed ends with the phrase “and the life everlasting.” Paul talks about this life everlasting as a time when we are finally incorruptible. It will be a time when we get it right. 1 Corinthians 15:52 – 55 “…In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” It is the day that we are finally perfect. Even though many people have thought they were all this time. It will finally be fully realized, and it will be a great day for each of us.
With a resurrection and life everlasting there is one more verse we need to look at. “If our hope in Christ is for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone else in the world.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 (NCV) We need to realize that there is a life to come after our life here is over. So, we do not live for just the dash. That we have a life coming that is greatly influenced by how we live this life. Really, it is determined by our beliefs. Have you realized that God is our creator, Jesus our Savior and the Holy Spirit our internal guide towards God? Have you settled where your beliefs are leading you and ready to put your faith in this God who loves you so much? Most of all will you remember that the dash is not the end of the story. It is a reminder that more is coming, and we need to live like we believe it.