Word at Half Year: reflection on one key word from above -what is our option ahead?

As we close the first half of 2026, the word from above calls us to abide in Christ and let His word abide in us.

In this season, one truth stands out with fresh urgency: resurrection. How we live in light of eternity matters more than ever. Resurrection is not a peripheral doctrine but a foundational hope and assurance for every believer in Jesus Christ.

The Biblical Foundation of Resurrection

Resurrection from the dead belongs to the first principles of Christ. The Bible records multiple supernatural resurrections, including the raising of saints at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. Yet Jesus’ own resurrection stands as the decisive proof and pattern for all who believe. Both Testaments bear witness to this hope. In the Old Testament, Job declared, “Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God” (Job 19:26). Isaiah proclaimed, “Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust!” (Isaiah 26:19). Daniel spoke even more clearly: “Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).

The New Testament brings this hope into full light through Jesus. Paul explains that Christ’s resurrection is the “firstfruits” of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20). Because He lives, believers will also live. Our perishable, natural bodies will be raised imperishable and clothed with power. As Paul triumphantly declares, “Death has been swallowed up in victory” through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54).

The Process and Hope of Resurrection

When a person dies, the soul separates from the body. The body rests until the appointed time of resurrection, while the spirit of the believer enters the joyful presence of the Lord—a place of supernatural peace, bliss, and comfort often described in Scripture and Christian testimony.

The Apostle Paul expressed a deep longing to bypass the waiting and be immediately with the Lord. Yet Scripture teaches an ordered sequence: the dead in Christ will rise first, and living believers will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Believers will receive transformed, powerful bodies like Christ’s own—capable of both physical interaction and transcendent freedom, as Jesus demonstrated after His resurrection when He ate with the disciples and passed through locked doors.

This hope extends further: reunion with departed loved ones at the rapture, participation in the coming reign of Christ, and ultimately, eternity in the presence of God for those who belong to Him.

Living with This Hope Today

We must accept the reality of an interim period after death—a time of waiting and rest for those “asleep in Jesus.” The church waits expectantly for the rapture. Individually, we prepare our hearts through abiding in Christ, living by His Word, and walking in the Spirit.

The choice before every person is solemn yet filled with promise: eternal life with God through faith in Jesus Christ, or separation from Him. This is not abstract theology but a call to decision and daily faithfulness.

Let these truths bring comfort, courage, and clarity. Christ has conquered death. Those who belong to Him will share in His victory and glory. May we live the remainder of this year—and every day entrusted to us—with eyes fixed on the resurrection and the eternal life that awaits.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command… and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Further Reflection
For deeper study

Explore 1 Corinthians 15, Philippians 3:20-21, and Revelation 20–21. Earlier writings in this blog on this theme include reflections on the significance of resurrection, eyewitness accounts of life returning to the dead, and the historical evidence for Christ’s resurrection.

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2016-07-02

This post is also posted in https://wp.me/pzRwB-a0a  

The Holy Spirit asked a question 圣灵说：对你来说我是谁？

Listening to audio Bible reading this morning I heard this “This is what my Almighty Lord said” ! What draws attention is the word “my”. This is a very personal statement. I cannot remember reading anywhere in any Bible versions (including other languages) this verse. When I searched the text and specifically identify the version the reader narrated, and then translated it into English, I then realized it is quoted from a 2019 Modern Chinese Version and the text reads, “These words come from I, the Almighty Lord.”

The text is quoted from 2 Corinthians 6:18 “I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters. This is what I, the Almighty, say.”(Direct translation*)

Having listened to the reading again just now I now confirm that indeed the narrator has clearly read the text as “This is what my Almighty Lord said”!

He is not merely reading for the audience.

What he did was that he made a personal statement about how he listened to the Lord when he read the words of God into himself and makes them his own. He is reading what he hears in his spirit. The words become life for him.

Jesus said, John 6:63 New Life Version

⁶³ It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh is of no help. The words I speak to you are spirit and life.

This is how the Kingdom of God works on earth as in heaven.

今天早上听圣经朗读时，我听到了这样一句话：“我的全能主如此说！” 引人注目的是“我的”这个词。这是一句非常私人的陈述。我不记得在任何圣经版本（包括其他语言）中读到过这节经文。当我查阅文本，并明确指出朗读者朗读的版本，然后将其翻译成英文时，我才意识到它引用的是2019年的现代汉语译本，原文是：“这些话来自我，全能的主。”

这段文字引用自哥林多后书6:18：“我要作你们的父，你们要作我的儿女。这是我全能者说的。”（直译*）

刚才再次聆听朗读后，我确认朗读者确实清楚地将文本读成了“我的全能主如此说”！

他不仅仅是在为听众朗读。

他所做的，是他个人的陈述，讲述了当他将神的话语读进心里，并使其成为自己的话语时，他是如何聆听主的。他用灵去读他所听到的。这些话语成为他的生命。

耶稣说，约翰福音 6:63 新生命版

63 叫人活着的乃是灵，肉体是无益的。我对你们所说的话，就是灵，就是生命。

神的国在地上如同在天上，就是这样运作的。

2025-09-20

• Original text: 现代中文译本2019版 哥林多后书 6:18 我要作你们的父；你们要作我的儿女。这是全能的主说的。我要作你们的父亲；你们要作我的儿女。
  这话是我—全能的主说的。
  
  note: This article and picture are also posted in my other blog: https://wp.me/pzRwB-9PZ 

These women had accurately aligned with the great destiny set for them

Two poor widows, (at the time when the judges ruled), Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi returned across the River Jordan from Moab to Bethlehem.

The Book of Judges recorded that Eglon, king of Moab, invaded Canaan as far as Jericho and subjugated the Israelites for eighteen years before being assassinated by Ehud the Benjamite (1302-1204BC). The time of the judges displayed repeated cycles of peace and oppressions, brought about great apostasy in Israel. The nation underwent political and religious turmoil. The tribes fought among themselves. The people rebelled against God through idolatry and unbelief, and brought judgement upon themselves through foreign oppressions. God then raised up a deliverer/judge, and the people repented and turned back to God and had peace for their nation.

During a famine, Israelite Naomi left Bethlehem with her husband and two sons and migrated to their enemy’s country, Moab (c.1294BC) and stayed there for ten years. Her husband died and her two sons were killed (possibly at war between Moab and Israel). Naomi was widowed with her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem after the famine was over. She dissuaded them from following her. Orpah finally agreed. But Ruth persisted in her decision to follow Naomi.

Here is a quote of the related Bible verses:
Ruth 1:15 And she (Naomi) said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said:
“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.
17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
18 When she (Naomi) saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.

Ruth’s journey to Bethlehem (source: thebiblejourney.org)

The journey was illustrated in the above map.

Although the war had ceased, there was still great risk for two vulnerable women to walk through difficult and dangerous terrain, during a time threatened by lawlessness, bandits and wild animals. They had to walk on uneven ground and climb slope as steep as 2000 foot. Crossing the Jordan River at the time of the first grain-Barley harvest when the river was full from snow melting at early spring was another tough challenge.

Ruth was obviously an attractive and pleasing young woman because Naomi twice expressed her confidence that Ruth could still marry to a good man and had children. There was no rational reason for Ruth to insist on following her mother-in-law to the enemy’s country and live among aliens with no other social support. Why did Ruth make this seemingly foolish (in the eyes of her countrymen) choice? We can find some answers in the Book of Ruth from her interactions with her mother-in-law and her future husband, Boaz.

Ruth’s character: a caring, loyal, trusting and obedient daughter-in-law, a hard working woman, a humble and unassuming person.
Relationship between the two women: More like mother and daughter.
Conversion and discipleship: Despite the general apostasy of her nation, Naomi had taught Ruth her religious belief and very likely had set a good example in her own faith in God.
Ruth’s faith: Most significantly, we note that Ruth really believed in the God of Israel. Her faith in God made her align with the great destiny God had prepared for her.

“And your God, my God.” Ruth declared. This is the ultimate reason why she was later exalted by God from a poor foreign widow to the highly honored and respected position as the legal wife of one of the richest men in Bethlehem and together they became the ancestors of David, from whose lineage Joseph and Mary derived.

If Ruth had followed her own race, culture and parental religion, she would have missed out her illustrious destiny. If Naomi had not kept her own religion and belief in God regardless of her circumstances, she would not have been able to influence and converted Ruth to the right belief and right way.

Naomi had a strong character. She was able to ask the right questions, analyze, size up the situation and reached the right conclusion. She took charge and made the right decisions. She instructed Ruth with authority and confidence. But if Naomi had not obeyed her husband’s decision and moved to Moab with him, stayed there for ten years until her two sons died, she would not have brought back Ruth and Ruth would not have appeared in the lineage of David, Joseph and Mary too. Naomi too would not have been instrumental in fulfilling a great destiny.

Thus, both women’s belief, faith in God and their willingness to humble and submit themselves to God, had contributed to Ruth choosing rightly and thus fulfilled God’s marvelous plan for their lives!