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There is Resurrection and Life After Life, though
From Luke 20: 27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her." 34 Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive."
"That's why they're always sad, you see!" The things you learn as a child you sometimes don't easily forget. I heard that phrase either in a song or just as a way to remember that the Sadducees were a sad bunch. They had determined in their studies, that there was no life after death. There is no resurrection. There are still plenty of people who believe that. You live, you die, that's it. That is a sad way to live. In fact, as a trap for Jesus, they devised this scenario of a family of seven brothers, one woman, and no children. Given the law of Moses that said that a man should leave behind children, they decide to ask Jesus who would be this woman's husband in heaven, if she had married all seven brothers and not one of them had left behind any children? Jesus answers it this way; "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage." Jesus knew there is another age of which the Sadducees knew nothing about. His answer about that age, "Those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage." What's more, Jesus adds, "Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection."
Jesus believed in the resurrection. And Jesus knew that from the story of the burning bush where Moses heard from the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, that God is God of the living, not of the dead; for Moses having heard this heard that all of these were still alive. So, the question we should ask if who is worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection? The answer, those who believe and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Those who commit all aspect of their lives to Him receive eternal life. Jesus desires from us a relationship that will never die. A human relationship, as you know from all the relationships you have or have had, have their up moments and their down moments. There are times when relationships end. But a relationship with Jesus is eternal. "Él es tu amigo mas fiel" came to mind, from the Spanish translation of "Tell It to Jesus" which includes these words, "He is a Friend that's well known. You've no other such a friend or brother."
Seek to be in such a relationship with the God who loves you and to Whom you matter much. Seek the love that never ends or fades that comes from the Author of Love, which is God.
PRAYER: God of love, while in this age, bless and protect my relationships with those who are near and dear to me. I seek to be a blessing to all who depend and count on me. Yet let the love You have to me be the source of the love I can share with others, and may my love for You never die. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
