If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

Wait, so…

Did Paul really fight wild beasts? Like in the arena? Gladiator-style?

We don’t know, Beloved. Most likely, Paul is speaking metaphorically here.

Still, it’s a cool picture.

I think Paul’s point is that, without the resurrection, there is no point in working, suffering, dying  for the Gospel, for without the resurrection the Gospel is a lie. In that case, we might as well live it up, because this life is all we have.

Sobering, to think that this is it, that death is really the end of existence.  Where would that belief take you, Beloved?

Nihilism? 

Licentiousness? 

Despair?

Ah, but we don’t believe that, do we? We trust that this life is not the end, that the grave will not hold us any more than it held Him.

Tomorrow we die?

No, Beloved.

Tomorrow we rise.

Happy Wednesday