“Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[b] 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” 39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.” Luke 20.34-40
The God of the living. The children of the resurrection.
These two phrases should bring us much hope. We who live in a world in which people are born and die every day, where seasons change and rebirth happens, should celebrate the hope of everlasting life.
Some in this conversation with Jesus were concerned with marriage in heaven, but in heaven, Jesus says, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. The point of heaven is not to be united with another child of the resurrection but with the Lord who is the resurrection and the life.
And throughout Scripture, Old and New Testaments, and in the case of Moses at the burning bush, God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is their God because they live still.
We who are humans can do many things, but we cannot produce life. All around us every day the world is teeming with living creatures. Insects being born “alive.” Horses, donkeys, and cows “with life.” We can certainly kill and end life, but we do not have the power to create it. Only God can do this. And His promise to us, and the purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth, was for us to have life on this earth and in the life to come.
What a beautiful promise God gives us through Jesus, the one who declares that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Anyone who believes in Me will have life, Jesus says.
Believing is surrendering. Surrendering is living. Living leads to abundance and blessings beyond compare. Let’s live for Christ this day—turning from sin and shame and exalting the Lord who offers abundant and eternal life.
“O Lord God, You are good and faithful. Even in my brokenness You shed Your light. You rescued us from the darkness and made us to be Your people. You gave us the gift to choose You and thus to choose life. Come now, Holy Spirit, save Your people. Redeem this world. Help us live into the life that You have given. For You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen