By JUDD MATSUNAGA, ESQ.
40 years ago, I would have put up a pretty strong argument, but science says that humans do not need sex to survive. Healthline notes that sexual activity provides benefits like stress relief, improved sleep, and cardiovascular benefits, but these are not required to stay alive. However, according to USA Today, a person can only survive without food for three to eight weeks (provided they have access to water).
Furthermore, most people can survive without water for approximately three to five days (www.health.com). According to the National Institutes of Health, the human brain can survive without oxygen for up to four to five minutes. But it is almost impossible to live without hope. What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life. We are told by modern science, e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, and clergy, that one of the great needs in our world today is hope.
Many people today, both young and old, have lost hope. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (AFSP), suicide is a major public health issue, ranking among the top eight causes of death for people aged 10-64. More surprisingly, adults aged 85 or older have the highest suicide rates, with a 52% rise between 2000 and 2021. I’ve also read that Japan has one of the world’s highest suicide rates, and it remains a severe public health issue driven by social isolation, financial stress, and health issues.
Today is even worse. We turn on the news and watch what’s happening all over the world, i.e., the missiles, the bombs, the explosions. Modern-day warfare is unlike anything I’ve seen before (and I watched a ton of war movies). The threat of global annihilation with the push of a button is all too real. Furthermore, today’s most popular movie, “Project Hail Mary,” is about a mysterious substance causing the sun to die out in 30 years, totally destroying the whole Earth.
So we ask ourselves, “Is there any hope?” Best-selling author Herb Cohen, called “the world’s best negotiator” by Playboy magazine, said, “The most widespread feeling of these days is one of hopelessness and helplessness.” However, even in the midst of what’s happening in the world, the Bible says for the child of God to look forward with great hope. The purpose of this Easter article is to tell all Rafu Shimpo readers that you should have hope, not fear.
Why? Because Jesus Christ is going to come back, i.e., the Second Coming. The second coming is referred to as the “blessed hope” for Christians. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ will return personally, visibly, and in glory to judge the world, resurrect the dead, and establish a new kingdom, fulfilling prophecy. The Second Coming promises the final end of suffering and the beginning of eternal life with God.
So, you might ask, “When is the end of this world going to happen?” According to Billy Graham, “When you die, that’ll be the end of the world for you. When a person dies, that’s the end of the world for them. He may come tonight in your sleep.”
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)
If you’re still young and healthy, you’re like people all over the world, all asking the same questions. “What’s the purpose of my life? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? What is the hope of our world?” Although the Bible does not give the exact day or hour of Christ’s return, the Bible says there will be “signs” of the Second Coming of Christ, often described as “birth pains” (Matthew 24:8). These include global turmoil, widespread apostasy, intensifying natural disasters, and the rise of deception.
These events serve as warnings to prepare for Christ’s return. Christ will not return in humility as before (i.e., born in a manger and riding on a donkey), but with power and great glory, visible to all (Revelation 1:7). He will return in the same way he departed — physically, through the clouds, accompanied by angels (Acts 1:11, Matthew 25:31). No one knows the exact day or hour, only that it will be unexpected (Matthew 24:36, 38-44). This event will be sudden, likened to a thief in the night or lightning, prompting calls for believers to stay vigilant, prepared, and patient.
Back in biblical times, the disciples asked Jesus the same question. They said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world? Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you…. you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” (Matthew 24:3-8)
The Bible also says “…that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (2 Timothy 3:2-5)
You say, “That sounds like an accurate description of our country today.” I agree. Do you know that this was written more than 2,000 years ago? It was a prediction of what is going to happen in the future. But you say, “It’s happening now.” You bet! And if Jesus said it, it will surely come to pass. Every prophecy He gave, every sign He described, every promise He made — you can count on it. You can trust Him with the end of the age, and you can trust Him with your life right now.
So since we are seeing the “birth pains” Jesus spoke about happening right now, what are we supposed to do? Luke, known as the “beloved physician” and companion to Paul the Apostle, wrote, “Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28) In other words, we are living in the last days right now, Jesus Christ is coming back!!!
Do you know Jesus Christ? Does he dominate your life? Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, “The Divine Comedy,” written in the early 14th century, describes the author’s allegorical journey through Hell. it is considered one of the most important poems of the Middle Ages and the greatest literary work in the Italian language. Alighieri said, “All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” There is no hope for those that are outside of Christ.
But there is hope for the child of God, which is laid up for you in heaven. Hope for handicapped people. Hope that you’re going to have a new body. Hope for the poor people that some day you’ll have more than you can ever possibly dream. Hope for the people that have been discriminated against, because you’re going to go to a place where there is absolute, total social justice. There’s even hope for rich people, that God will forgive us for having so much in a world that has so little. There’s a great future out there for all of those who let Christ dominate their lives. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” (Jeremiah 17:7)
Do you have this hope in your heart? If not, you must receive Him into your heart by faith. You can’t do it by yourself because God has to help you in the repenting. You come to the Easter cross where He died for you. He took all of your sins and He took your judgment because the scripture says when you die, you’re going to go to judgment. There’s going to be a day of judgment in which all of us will give an account of what we’ve done here, and the things we’ve thought, and our thoughts and intents will be judged.
According to Billy Graham, “The only cost to you is that you submit, surrender, believe, repent, follow Him, and serve Him. Oh yes, when you go to serve Him, it’s not going to be easy. You may lose a friend. You may have problems that you never dreamed that you’d have, because it’s not easy to follow Christ in our present generation. But when you surrender to Him, the Holy Spirit comes to live within you. He gives you a power that you don’t now have to produce the fruit of the Spirit, love and joy and peace and long suffering and gentleness.”
In conclusion, we all have something wonderful to look forward to, something to be happy about, something to be expected. Yes, there’s hope. Hope for the future. It’s centered in the person of Christ, who died for our sins and rose from the grave and is alive now. And I have staked everything I have or ever hope to be on Him. “This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God — who does not lie — promised them before the world began.” (Titus 1:2)
When I was younger, I would read about Christ’s return and to be honest, wasn’t too happy about it. I would think to myself, not just yet, there’s still some things I’d like to do or places to go. But now (perhaps I’m getting old), I’ll often find myself saying, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Christ would come tonight? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, while I was sleeping, I would just slip into Heaven? I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to death because the sting of death has been removed by His resurrection. He’s alive. And because He lives, we’re going to live too.
What a hope we have. “Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:54) If He comes in my lifetime, I’m looking forward to it. Happy Easter! He has risen — indeed!!!!
Judd Matsunaga, Esq., is the founding partner of the Law Offices of Matsunaga & Associates, specializing in estate/Medi-Cal planning, probate, personal injury and real estate law. With offices in Torrance, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena and Fountain Valley, he can be reached at (800) 411-0546. Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of The Rafu Shimpo.