God is faithful to his promises and he calls us to works of service, but if the end result is simply a long life on a strip of land next to the Jordan River followed by death and burial, what is the point? Sure, there can be temporary blessings and prosperity during that life—under the old covenant we know that is what Israel was promised (see Deuteronomy 28:1–68). If you obey, you will be blessed; if you disobey, you will be cursed. But if we are all going to end up in the grave, does it really matter if we serve God in the here and now? The Muslim will die, the Christian will die, the pagan will die; therefore, eat, drink, and be merry. Make the most of your seventy years, for that is all that you have and then you are gone. A funeral awaits all of us.

The hope of resurrection is a hope that has always resided in the hearts of God’s people. It was the hope of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Ruth, and David. And it is the hope which makes sense of service in the present. Death is not the end and so those who serve God now can look forward to eternal life in his presence. You are not wasting your time when you pray with your children and teach them Bible stories. You are not wasting your energy when you travel far to come to worship and make an effort to speak to people after the service. You are not wasting your money when you give to support the ministry of the Word or to provide for brothers and sisters in need. You are not wasting your life when you deny yourself to do good for those around you. You are not being unwise when you serve God by working hard at your job and being there for your family. With the hope of resurrection, serving God makes sense.