“That same day the Sadducees, came to him with a question. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?’ Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead-have you not read what God said to you, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”’ When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.” Matthew 22:23-33

Dear Jesus, It’s the most comforting argument you ever won. The question those Sadducees raised struck at the heart of my biggest fear (death) and your biggest promise, (resurrection from death.) I’m like the crowd in the last verse. I’m astonished at your teaching and encouraged in my faith. I feel safe. The Bible they doubted really does teach eternal life beyond the grave. It’s even assumed in passages where it’s not taught explicitly. When we get to heaven we will be like the angels in fact that we won’t be married. We’ll all be close friends with everyone in every way. When I watch you win that argument, I go from doubt to faith-filled anticipation. You are my champion and my Lord. How could I ever thank you enough for including me, of all people, in the knowledge of your victory over this otherwise dead end life? I will live in joy and grace today as my tribute to you. Amen.

When you know you are going to live forever, you live differently in the here and now.