Living Beyond This Life: The Eternal Perspective of 1 Corinthians 15:19
1 Corinthians 15 is often regarded as one of the most significant chapters in the New Testament. In this passage, the Apostle Paul addresses the resurrection of Christ and the future resurrection of believers, underlining that Christianity hinges on the truth of the resurrection. The chapter, in its entirety, challenges the believer to look beyond this earthly life, inviting us to focus on eternal life with Christ.
Among the many profound verses, 1 Corinthians 15:19 stands out: “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” This verse highlights the eternal nature of the hope we have in Christ. But it also raises a challenging question—how do we live meaningfully in this life while keeping our hope anchored in eternity? Is there a tension between being fully present on earth and living for heaven?
This article explores how to navigate this challenge, reflecting on the teachings of Scripture that help us find balance in living for the kingdom of God while still engaging with the world around us.
Understanding 1 Corinthians 15:19
To understand 1 Corinthians 15:19, we must first look at its context. In this chapter, Paul is defending the doctrine of resurrection. In verses 12–19, Paul argues that if there is no resurrection, then the Christian faith itself is futile. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then Christians have no hope of eternal life, and their faith is meaningless. In verse 19, Paul concludes that if our hope in Christ is only for this earthly life, then we are, as he puts it, “most to be pitied.”
This statement is powerful because it shifts our focus from temporary, earthly hopes to the eternal hope found in Christ. Paul is saying that if our faith doesn’t offer us anything beyond this life—if it only provides us comfort, success, or security in this world—then it is ultimately hollow and fleeting. It is, in essence, a delusion.
Thus, 1 Corinthians 15:19 is not meant to cast doubt on the value of this life, but to challenge us to place our ultimate hope in the resurrection and life to come. It’s a call to live in light of eternity.
The Tension Between Earthly Life and Eternal Hope
While Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:19 highlight the importance of eternal hope, they can also create tension. After all, we are still living in this world—facing its struggles, joys, and challenges. So how can we focus on eternity while still living here and now?
There is a risk of misunderstanding Paul’s statement as diminishing the significance of this life. However, Scripture does not call us to ignore or neglect our earthly lives. Rather, it calls us to live with a dual perspective: fully engaged in the world around us, yet with our hearts set on the world to come.
Jesus Himself prayed, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This prayer reveals that God’s kingdom is not just a future hope, but something that believers are called to seek and advance here on earth. Our work, relationships, and contributions to society have purpose because they are part of God’s plan for redemption and renewal in the world.
Paul, too, saw value in living out the Christian faith on earth while eagerly anticipating his heavenly home. In Philippians 1:21, he writes, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Paul understood that life on earth was an opportunity to serve Christ, but death would be the ultimate gain as he would enter into the fullness of eternal life.
Thus, while 1 Corinthians 15:19 emphasizes the centrality of our hope in the resurrection, it also invites us to live purposefully in the here and now, with an eternal perspective.
Living With a Dual Perspective
How, then, do we live in light of eternity while still engaged with the world? Scripture provides a few key principles to help us maintain a balanced, eternal perspective:
1. Our Present Life Has Purpose - Even though our ultimate hope is in eternity, our current life is not without significance. Jesus instructed His followers to pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth, meaning that believers are called to bring about God’s will in this world, even as we await the fullness of the kingdom to come.
In Philippians 1:22–24, Paul shares his inner conflict between living for Christ and longing to be with Him: “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” Paul recognized that his earthly life had purpose—it was an opportunity to continue labouring for Christ, to serve others, and to fulfill his calling.
2. The Danger of Misplaced Hope - The key danger Paul is addressing in 1 Corinthians 15:19 is the temptation to place our ultimate hope in earthly things. Our earthly pursuits—whether success, wealth, comfort, or security—are temporary. They are all subject to decay, change, and ultimately death.
In Matthew 6:19–21, Jesus warns us not to lay up treasures on earth, where they can be destroyed, but to lay up treasures in heaven, where they are eternal: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Living with an eternal perspective means understanding that our hope cannot be anchored in fleeting things. Our true hope is in Christ and the resurrection, and this perspective frees us from the constant pursuit of earthly comforts that ultimately fail to satisfy.
3. How Jesus Lived With an Eternal Perspective - Jesus modelled how to live with an eternal perspective while engaging fully in earthly life. He worked, ate, built relationships, and served people—but He also pointed to the eternal truth of God’s kingdom.
In John 14:2–3, Jesus comforts His disciples by telling them that He is preparing a place for them in His Father’s house: “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”Jesus’ words remind us that this life is not all there is. His focus was always on bringing people into the eternal life He was preparing for them.
5. Application: How Should We Live? - Living with an eternal perspective does not mean disengaging from the world; rather, it calls us to live with purpose, knowing that our work and our lives have eternal significance. Here are some practical ways we can apply this:
• Engage fully in life, but with the right priorities. Work, study, and build relationships, but remember that these things are temporary. Strive to honor God in all areas of life, knowing that your true treasure is in heaven.
• Love and serve others with eternity in mind. Our relationships are opportunities to share the hope we have in Christ. By serving others with an eternal perspective, we can help point them toward the ultimate hope found in the resurrection.
• Endure trials with hope. Life on earth is filled with hardships, but remembering that our ultimate hope is in the resurrection can help us persevere. As Paul says in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, 1 Corinthians 15:19 challenges us to place our hope not in this life alone, but in the eternal life promised to us through Christ’s resurrection. This eternal hope does not diminish the value of our earthly lives; rather, it frees us to live with purpose and meaning. As we live out our daily lives, we are called to do so with an eternal perspective, seeking to honour God and serve others, knowing that our true home is with Him.
The eternal perspective that Paul urges us to adopt in 1 Corinthians 15:19 doesn’t make life on earth insignificant—it makes life here on earth significant in light of what is to come. So, let us live boldly and purposefully, for we are not living for this world alone, but for the eternal glory that awaits us.