Guarantor
But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ. But each one will be raised in order: Christ, first of all; then, at the time of his coming, those who belong to him. (verses 20-23)
Have you ever thought of Jesus as a guarantee? In a way, that’s exactly what he is. He is our guarantee of eternal life. And, to keep the image going, he is also our guarantor.
When I was young and wanted to buy a first car, the first question I was asked was who would be my guarantor. Who would come good with the money if I were to find I couldn’t keep up the payments, or if I were to try to escape from them? Because I’d never had a loan before, I had no credit rating.
As far as eternal life was concerned, I was way behind in my payments and getting deeper into debt. There was no way I could meet my payments, and no way I could run away to escape from them. But Jesus paid my debt in full when he died on the cross, and his Father guaranteed that it had been wiped out when he raised his Son from death.
It’s a good feeling when a loan is finally paid off. How much better it is to know that in Jesus we have the guarantee of eternal life!
Father, may my life reflect the gratitude and love I feel for all you’ve done for me. Thank you for your guarantees, Lord! Amen.
by Bob Turnbull, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)
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