There exists an old story about a high school graduate, who upon commencement was asked, “What will you do now?” The grad answered, “I think that I should go to college.” His friend followed up, “What then?” The young man gave the question some thought and responded, “I’ll probably start up a business or pursue a career.” Again, he was asked, “What then?” The young scholar replied, “I’ll probably get married and start a family.” “What then?” queried his friend. “Oh, eventually I’ll retire and enjoy my golden years.” Again, he heard the words, “What then?” I suppose that I’ll grow old and die.” One last time he was asked, “What then?” He had no answer.
Christians have an answer to the final, “What then?” The Apostle Paul wrote, “the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’
“‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’”
This is the season when hundreds of millions of people will consider what is most important. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.”
Because of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and because of his victory over death, we have an answer to “What then?” Heaven! The Father’s house! Glory!
Ken Haskins is pastor of First Christian Church of Carson City.
