“Wake Up”

 1 Corinthians 15:20-33

The apostle Paul begins in verse 20 with this message; “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  Now that is not good news that is marvelous news, for Christ has risen indeed.  In the fourteen verses that follow on this thought, we should not overlook verse 34, “Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.”  What a contrast from a risen Redeemer to telling the Church to “Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning.  For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.”

This new church needed Paul’s message, for they were coming from the worship of idols, and the central message was the Lord’s authority over them.  If one was to examine today’s church the same message is needed.  I’m sure it is not a new thing, but it seems to be accelerating the lack of respect for authority and the departmentalizing of a once spiritual life, to a day or an occasion. The apostle Paul is very clear that only two men have lived, one named Adam brought death, and the other Jesus Christ, the Son of God who took on flesh and became a man and brought life to all who will receive it. 

Often, as a time critter, I have a total misunderstanding of a God who is outside of time, and who has seen the beginning of time, as we know it and the end.  A lot of what Paul is telling us has taken place, but some are what we time critters call future, so let’s examine verses 24-28, “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is accepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸ When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”

Do you recall Jesus’ final words on the Cross; “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”  If you are wondering what was finished, it was all that the Father had sent Jesus to do, every rule and every authority and power were taken captive, and death no longer had control over mankind, for our Redeemer won the victory.  And by God’s grace through the faith He has given us, we can enter into life with Christ.

But let us not err in overlooking the “Wake Up” in verse 34, for it is to our shame when we are not sharing our new life in Christ, for it is Christ in you who is the hope of glory.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice