Shepherd the Flock

“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” - 1 Cor 15:19

This morning, on Resurrection Sunday at Berean Bible Church in Austell, GA, the public scripture reading was 1 Corinthians chapter 15. This particular chapter is very special to me, as it should be for most believers, in that Paul gives a defense of the Resurrection of Christ, the foundation of our faith. While meditating on the public reading this morning, verse 19 particularly stuck out in my mind. I had an opportunity to share with the congregation some thoughts on verse 19, and so I thought it good to repeat them here as well:

“If in this life only, we are…most to be pitied.”
I find it amazing how emphatic Paul nails down that point that the gospel is not about this present life. Specifically, there are preachers everywhere now days who place great emphasis on what faith in Christ can provide in this life, and yet this message is completely contrary to what Paul says here.

If I may put is simply: Jesus did not come to give you a better life. Jesus did not come to improve your circumstances. He did not come to smooth out your marriage. He did not come to give you better relationships. He did not come to make you healthy, wealthy, or comfortable. He did not come so that we could all have peace with one another. He did not come to restore world peace, to end famine, or to stifle suffering. Jesus did not die so you could have live more abundantly…by worldly standards that is. And yet, hope for what Christ can give us in this life is the message being proclaimed in countless pulpits today.

On the contrary, Paul, speaking from his own experiences, says that if our hope in Christ has anything to do with this life, we are of all people most to be pitied. How and why could Paul say such a thing? He later tells the Corinthians a little more about what the gospel has brought him in this life:

“Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” - 2 Cor 11

If Paul’s sufferings aren’t enough, consider what the writer of Hebrews states regarding the sufferings of some of the greatest saints:

“Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated- of whom the world was not worthy-wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” - Heb 11

Here we have the apostle Paul, who could easily be called the greatest of new testament missionaries, and all he did was suffer. OK, so Paul was continually chased, beaten, and imprisoned. Fair enough, proclaiming the gospel is tough, right? But think about this and read further: he was shipwrecked, in dangers at sea, dangers from rivers and robbers, he was hungry and thirsty, naked, cold, and sleepless.

What kind of God is this? Can’t He control the elements?
After all, we, like Paul, believe God is sovereign, right? Could God not have kept him from being robbed while he was out preaching the gospel? That’s like getting car-jacked while on a missionary journey in another city. Consider that happening to you. Or it’s like getting beaten and your wallet stolen while out witnessing for Christ. What would go through your mind if that happened to you? From our earthly, fleshly standpoint, would we be naturally inclined to beleive that God was calling the shots during that situation?

Could God not have made sure that Paul received adequate shelter and food during his missionary journeys? Is shelter, food, and a good night’s rest too much to ask from the God of all creation? After all, we are trying to fulfill the Great Commission, right? What about being shipwrecked? If we are flying to another country to bear witness for Christ, what would you think if your plane went down on a deserted island? Would you lose confidence in God’s sovereignty, or would you take the mind of Paul and understand that the accomplishment of Christ on our behalf has nothing to do with circumstances in this life?

The fact is, Paul knew that God was sovereign over every detail of life, and this is the reason why he can state with such conviction that if we hope in Christ for what it will bring us in this life, we are of all men most to be pitied. We’re pathetic, we’re madmen, we’re without hope…if Christ’s death and resurrection were meant to provide us with a better life while here on earth.

As I have heard Al Mohler say before, the gospel isn’t meant to give you greener grass, more obedient pets, or happier vacations. It demands your life, and it will indeed take it all from you. Just ask Paul.