Not in Vain by David Jeremiah

Not in Vain For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 A real estate developer spends a year courting the owner of a prime piece of land on which he hopes to develop a commercial shopping and retail space. Just when the owner seems ready to sell, he backs out; he changes his mind about selling the property to the developer. The developer thinks to himself, “A year’s work has been in vain. All my effort has led to nothing.” It wasn’t totally in vain, of course—the deal might still bear fruit in the future.

Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

The apostle Paul wrote about something that might truly be in vain: our faith and our preaching of the Gospel. In vain, that is, if Christ was not raised from the dead. The Christian faith stands or falls on the resurrection. If we don’t serve a living Savior, then our hope in the resurrection of the dead and eternal life is vanity. Instead of a Savior, we have followed only a martyr. That’s how important the resurrection is. Today, spend time with the living Savior who gave His life for you and who will come again to receive you unto Himself! Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion.  John R. W. Stott