Daniel 12:1-3 - "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

I remember long ago sitting at a funeral in our Vietnamese church. A four-year-old girl came to sit next to me. She asked, "What's going to happen to Grandma? What happens when we die?"

Since we were in the back of the church, it was no problem for me to speak quietly. And so I explained to her about the resurrection of the dead. I told her that, because Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us on the cross, everyone who trusts in Him will live forever, just as He does. And so her Grandma was not going to be dead forever, or get reborn as another person or animal, like many people she knew believed. Jesus would come on the Last Day and raise Grandma from the dead, never to die again; and all the rest of us, too. And we would have our bodies again, but made new, strong and healthy, and there would be no more death or evil.

She was so excited! She jumped to her feet and raced down the aisle of the church to the very front, where her mother was sitting by the casket. And she shouted, "Mommy, Mommy! I have good news for you!"

It is good news—and it's news we've known from long before Jesus was born, because God told His prophets, including Daniel. On that day when Jesus returns, "those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

Since we have this hope, we do our best to tell others about Jesus. We want them, too, to rise up to everlasting life on that day—and not to shame or contempt. Jesus gave Himself for all of us, our neighbors included; and now He uses us to bring the Good News to them as well.

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You for such wonderful news! Give me opportunities to share it with those who don't know it already. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you think most people know about the resurrection from the dead? Or has the idea of being an angel or spirit taken over in our culture?

2. Why do you think God wants us to have our bodies forever?

3. Who could you share this wonderful news with?

Today's Bible Readings: Daniel 5-7    Titus 3

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