So 1 Samuel 28 shares with us a unique story, not just because it’s an odd account about the dead Samuel being conjured up to speak to Saul, but also because it’s really one of the few times in the Old Testament that we broach the topic of the afterlife.
At first that might seem unusual -especially since our Christian faith revolves around the afterlife- but in light of the gospel, it really makes sense.
“…but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” – 2 Timothy 1:10
The gospel itself revealed many things which were beforehand a mystery (Col. 1:26, Ro. 16:25); it lifts the veil from the eyes of those under the Mosaic law (2 Cor. 3:14). God patiently lead his people to maturation, to the climax – the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ- in which his great plan would be revealed. Some have even noticed the progression in comprehension of the afterlife within the OT: from Sheol and darkness to a hope of being in the presence of Yahweh to finally the prophets teaching that creation would be freed from corruption and resurrection was promised to God’s people.
Today, there is no longer a mystery to those who come to Christ. Today there is an answer to ‘What happens after death?’ to ‘What is the point?’, ‘What hope is there?’
It’s not about ghosts or the isolated incident in which God allowed some con-artist woman to actually temporarily produce a dead man for the purposes of condemning a rebellious, fearful Saul. It’s also not about becoming ghost-like creatures ourselves – it’s about a real, physical resurrection. Transformation. It’s about freedom from fear and pain and corruption and decay, about victory, Christ, a home with our Father, paradise, eternity, relief, rest, joy, a new heavens and new earth. It’s about what God had planned for his creation from the beginning.
And by the grace of God through Christ, we can read about and understand (at least as much as our human minds can comprehend the divine realm) and anchor our souls in that hope, today.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” – Romans 8:18-25
Pursue Righteousness 