And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. | 1 Corinthians 15:17–19
As we looked at the Resurrection this Sunday in our study through the gospel of John, we spent some time in Paul’s above comments from 1 Corinthians. He makes it clear that if Jesus did not raise, if the Resurrection didn’t happen, then Christians are of all people: MOST TO BE PITIED.
I used to assume that the most here was simply a reference to the fact that the things we believed in would be ripped out from underneath us. The place where we have put our hope would no longer be solid ground. As I thought about it, I realized that this would simply put us on the same ground as everyone else. This would make us pitied, but not the MOST to be pitied. What is it that Paul believes would be so distressing to the Christian specifically?
Paul assumes that those who have united themselves to Jesus have united themselves in death and resurrection (Romans 6:5). Those who claim Christ have set aside the temporary desires of this life to live for eternity. They have reorganized their lives to sacrifice simple pleasures to invest in the kingdom of God. They are engaged in evangelism, discipleship, service, and caring for those around them. Their main concerns are not what they can get out of this life, but how to use their time and energy for God’s glory. They are not oriented toward finding their identity in their lives, but living out of the identity they have received in Christ. They have died to themselves (Galatians 2:20).
If this is the life of the Christian, then it would be absolutely devastating to find out that this life truly is the end. It would mean that they have miscalculated and altered their life toward something that will never be. Much like the disciples at the crucifixion, wondering what it means that the Messiah that they gave up everything to follow was being killed without bringing about the victory and domination that they expected. If Jesus had not come out of the grave, they would be left wondering: did we just waste our time?
Christians are the most to be pitied, because they have invested their lives in the resurrection life. You have to ask yourself: is this how I live? Would eternal life being taken off the table make me a person to be most pitied?
If not, what do you need to change to live the resurrection life?