If you were praying for God’s help and blessing at the funeral service for Wanda Peek, thank you. We were confident of Christ’s presence with us and a boldness in presenting the truth of the eternity and the Gospel. It is never pleasant to say good-bye to those we love who are in Christ even though we know it is temporary. But also knowing that our “final enemy,” death itself, is defeated and the reward of eternal life with our Lord and the promise of a “resurrected” body is our sustaining comfort in Christ. There were some present who have not yet received His gracious gift—and for these we continue to pray that God would save.

Another goal, although far from eternal, was achieved this week. I completed the Israel DVD. This is the latest I have ever finished and some of the students were able to pick up their copy on graduation day. That’s cutting it way too close. Thank you for praying these three months as I worked (what seems to be endlessly) on the DVD. I encountered more set-backs this year than any year previous. Even the final printing for the case cover needed extra time to be completed because of blunders. My prayer is that the DVD is a memorable and useful ministry tool. I have a few extra copies. If you would be interested in seeing the DVD, I’d be happy to make arrangements with you.

Next Sunday evening, June 1 at 6:00 PM, Pastor Rigsby will show the next set of slides from Israel. I would appreciate your prayer for God’s blessing in this presentation, too.

Monday is Memorial Day. It is always good to give thanks to the Lord and on this day we especially express our thanks to Him for the men and women who lost their lives in some way while defending our country and civil freedom.

Last week in the Korean Bible study we completed our lessons in I Corinthians 15. In verses 50-58, Paul picks up on a thought he didn’t complete earlier in verses 29-34, “why are the dead raised?” Now Paul has refined his question to, “what about those who are not physically dead at Christ’s coming?”

Paul answered his question with simple statements of fact. Here is how I phrased it for the group (with significant help from Barclay and Rigsby):

• We need to be changed, 50.
• We shall be changed, 51-54.
• We do not fear change, 55-57.
• We serve confident of change, 58.

It is Paul’s “thrilling conclusion,” in verse 58, that leads us to a practical response to the twin doctrines that make Christianity unique (Christ’s atonement and His resurrection). You know verse 58:

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Paul told those who read and heard his letter to be “steadfast,” that is, they must be convinced of the truth of the doctrine of the resurrection. Said negatively, they were not to waver, waffle, or flip-flop on what the Bible says about Jesus Christ’s resurrection and our resurrection.

The Corinthians were challenged to be “immovable” from this truth, whether confronted by heresy or heretic, arguments or arguers. When it came to false teaching Paul pleaded that each one would “stand your ground,” or better yet, stand on “the Bible’s” ground.

The realm in which these early believers were to be steadfast and immovable is “the work of the Lord.” Their “work” was that of proclaiming and explaining why this Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Deliverer-Redeemer, the Christ promised in time past beginning with the days of Adam and Eve.

Paul adds one additional quality to their work. This work of the Lord was to be “always abounding.” The picture is that of a servant who goes “above and beyond” the master’s call of duty. We might use synonyms like loyalty, faithful, true, but we seldom see or hear among the popular public such heroic examples to compare or emulate.

Finally Paul reminds his readers of the reason why they would persevere in such toilsome labor in the Lord, because you know “it is not in vain.” Our hope of resurrection is true, it is guaranteed, whether our body has already succumbed to physical death or is among those few privileged to still be alive at Jesus Christ’s return (and who wouldn’t want to be among that elite group, avoiding the sting of our fiercest, yet defeated enemy?). That guarantee is why this “labor” is not in “vain.”

Life is hard. The Christian life is even more difficult. But the goal is infinitely worth the struggle on the way.