Christ the First Fruit

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NET)
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

A few days ago I was looking at some mango trees with most of their fruits yet to mature, but these same trees already had a few mature and ripe fruits. Even though most of their fruits would not be ready until at least two months from now, there are some of them with few ripe fruits right now.

Those few ripe fruits are what is called first fruits. The other remaining fruits are yet maturing but the first fruits have already been harvested.

When you see first fruits, you are sure that the other fruits will follow in due time.

Jesus Christ was raised from the dead as the first fruit of those who have fallen asleep. This term ‘fallen asleep’ is only used for believers who are expected to ‘wake up’ on the resurrection.

We believers in Christ are sure of our resurrection because Jesus has already resurrected as our first fruits, and because he has resurrected, we too would resurrect.

Go into today thanking the Lord for the privilege to partake in the resurrection. It is our resurrection that would usher us into the fullness of our glory as sons of God and literally set the whole of creation free from the corruption (see 1 Corinthians 13:9,10,11). Living with the consciousness of your coming resurrection is the way to live as a believer. This consciousness would put all things into proper perspective and reduce the inflated temporary glory of this present world to its real size.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the assurance of resurrection in glory just as my Lord has resurrected into glory. Please help me live with this hope and experience a foretaste of this glory in this present life. Thank you Father for hearing me, in Jesus name. Amen.
—Abraham Damilola Arigi

Source: Devotional