If Only For This Life

“You have said harsh things against me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty?'” (Malachi 3:13-14, NIV 1984).

My Musings – The sentiment has been lately popularized in the lyrics of a song by Billy Joel, “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, the sinners are much more fun.” But as the above text makes clear it is hardly a new sentiment.

My Advice – And Billy Joel is right. But only if. “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:19, NIV 1984). The question is, why would Christ die if it only gave us hope for this life? A life where the saints do have things to cry about. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20–22, NIV 1984).

“Made alive” by a second birth that follows the death in “this life.” Where “He will wipe every tear from [our] eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3–4, NIV 1984). But the laughing of the sinners will be heard no more. They will be thrown “into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:50, NIV 1984).

Better to cry in this life for a while than to cry in the next for all eternity.