A Mind Fixed On The End

By: Rev. Yeri Nieto

I Corinthians 15:20-26

When the warrior Joshua began his ministry as leader of the Hebrew people, God spoke to him and expressed one of the phrases that we repeat most in the church: “Be strong and courageous.” But if we read Joshua 1:1-9 we notice that this request was made because God himself had already promised that he would be with Joshua and that the Israelite leader would “lead these people to inherit the land.”

The Christian life is the same, as we read in the Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. The apostle asks the church at the beginning of the text to “stand firm” (I Corinthians 15:1), and then he tells us why: We must stand firm because Christ has risen!

God gives us the resurrection as a promise, and when He promises something, He fulfills it. The resurrection is rightly understood as the ultimate victory of the Christian life. And that is why the resurrection is what keeps us firm, strong and courageous. We face all suffering, all difficulty, and any deserts or conflicts we may pass through on this earth with our minds fixed on the end. After all, for us the end is certain victory.

There will be no defeat because God never loses his battles! There will be no pain because He Himself will dry all tears! We won’t even need the sun because God will illuminate our new reality with his presence (Revelation 21:2-5)! Paul mentions that even death will be defeated. There will be no more death! All enemies and all events that frighten and terrify us will be under the feet of our Lord.

If we keep our minds fixed on this end, knowing that “God will make all things new”, then we will truly begin to live into and live out the resurrection of Jesus Christ today.