.... Hope for the Future

Benjamin Franklin was once quoted as saying, "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes." Leaving behind any reflections on the fairness of BC tax rates, it is worth considering how true Franklin's comments about death are. Everyone dies. Some will die soon and others will die later. And this is the problem - not how much money I don't have or how happy my kids are - that poses the greatest challenge to every one of us. How will we deal with our inevitable mortality?

Philosophies and religions the world over have tried to answer that question in different ways ...

"Do these good things and you will come back to life as a better kind of being"

"Follow these rules and you will inherit your own world"

"After death is nothing at all, so make the most of the few brief moments you have. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we all die"

Christians deal with the problem of death differently. We believe that Jesus was telling the truth, when he said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). We believe Jesus knew what he was talking about because he demonstrated his power over death by conquering it on that first Easter morning. We see the empty tomb and we now join together with Christ in a faith-filled taunt declaring, "Death is swallowed up in victory! O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (I Corinthians 15:54-55)

Our prayer is that the hope of resurrection calms your fears and fans a fire of boldness in your heart this Easter. Christ has defeated our greatest enemy. I imagine taxes won't be a problem for him either.

- Pastor Jeff Bucknam, Northview Community Church