Understanding Humanity, Resurrection Hope, and a Question About Heaven

AN IDEA FROM ME

We tend to forget what the Bible teaches about what it means to be human—that we are creatures created with dignity and bearing the image of God—and we, as a species, vacillate between two extremes. On the one hand, we say that we are nothing, a clump of cells (that infamous phrase used by pro-abortionists about human life in the womb), or that we are stardust (which I suppose is supposed to sound awe-inspiring, but actually is rather discouraging and demeaning when one thinks about it for awhile). On the other hand, we make ourselves out to be gods, declaring our autonomy and looking to ourselves (or our human representatives in civil government) to be our saviors from all of life's dangers and pains.

This passage [Psalm 8] clearly conveys that, while we are more than merely dust, we are certainly less than gods. It is dignifying and humbling simultaneously. And like a mirror it reflects our own failure to see ourselves rightly.

—Source: “Messiah, the Man (Thoughts on Psalm 8), https://thethink.institute/articles/messiah-the-man-thoughts-on-psalm-8 

A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE

This week has been a hard one for me, as my good friend and fraternity brother passed away over the weekend. At this time I am reminded of this life-giving promise, straight from the Lord Himself. Jesus is Lord of life, my friend. Trust in Him and live. 

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25–26).

—Source: the Bible, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2011&version=ESV 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

How sure are you that you will go to Heaven when you die? If you are certain, on what basis? If you aren’t, why not?

Respond to this email in the next seven days, and I will write you back.