The Great Fifty Days of Easter - Day 13 - April 13th

Day 13 - April 13th

Futile

1 Corinthians 15:17 (NIV)

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Most dictionaries define the opposite (antonym) of faith as unbelief.  But Paul tells us that the opposite of faith is futility, because without the resurrection, we still have our sins.  Remember yesterday, we said that Paul was starting a list of logical statements.  Today's second point is "If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is futile."  Once again, let's turn this statement around and make it a positive statement:  "If Christ HAS been raised, then your faith IS fruitful; you are without sin."  Also remember that faith is active, not passive.  Futility feels passive -- like there's nothing you can do about a situation.  Faith requires action -- we must actively work on strengthening our faith.

Today as you pray about how you can be less passive in your own faith journey, consider this translation of Bach's Cantata BWV 26:

Ah, how fleeting, ah how futile
is the life of mankind!
As a mist suddenly appears
and then quickly disappears again,
behold! so is our life.

Ah, how fleeting, ah how futile
are the doings of mankind!
Everything, everything that we see
must fall and pass away.
Whoever fears God will stand forever.