They were surrounded by everything they could ever want, everything they would ever need. Living in paradise, they had one command: Don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The warning was clear. Disobedience would bring death—not just physical death but a spiritual separation from God. Adam and Eve succumbed to the Tempter; consequently, sin flows through humanity.

But things are different with Jesus. He came to die. He gave himself up as the perfect sacrifice. He paid sin’s penalty once and for all. On the third day, he rose from the grave, conquering death forever. Jesus is the “firstfruits” blazing the trail for all who follow him. Just as his body was raised from the grave, those who trust in him by faith will be raised at his second coming.

1 Corinthians 15:23
But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

The true believer moves from life to death to life. One day, our souls will be absent from our bodies and present with the Lord. Then, at the second coming, our bodies—in resurrected form—will be raised from the grave, rejoined with our souls, and will forever be with the Lord. The resurrection of Jesus is the pledge that our resurrection will follow.

Father,
Thank you for the pledge of our resurrection confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus.
In his name. Amen.