Daily Devotions
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2
People commonly ask the question, “Does a person live after death?” Shakespeare describes life as a poor player who struts and frets his hour on the stage and then is heard no more. Thomas Gray writes pessimistically in his “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”: “The paths of glory lead but to the grave.” How depressing. The daily struggles and the future planning have little meaning if no life exists after death. Paul writes, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19). No wonder many people desperately ask, “Does a person live after death?”
Paul gives a ringing answer in Romans 5, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Not only does he affirm life after death, but he rejoices in the sure hope of eternal life with Christ in heaven. In Romans 8 Paul further explains the hope of the glory of God: “We wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved” (Romans 8:23-24). Because Jesus Christ died for us and rose again, we are justified through faith. Therefore we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Our bodies will be raised at the Last Day to live with God forever. A solid foundation for hope.
Share God’s answer. No need for despair, gloom, and futility. True, the paths of human glory lead to the grave. But those of us who believe in Christ as Savior can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Daily life is worth living in praise to God, for eternal life beckons.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord God, for sending my Savior, Jesus, so that I may live with you in glory. Amen.
(Devotions from “My Daily Devotion” by Dr. Stephen J. Carter, copyright 1988 CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. For ordering information, please contact CPH at 800-345-3040 or visit www.cph.org.)