As important as the concept of resurrection is to the New Testament and Christianity, it is surprising to find that the Old Testament has very few references to this belief. According to scholars like Robert Martin-Achard, this owes in part to the ancient Israelite understanding of what the good life should be. For ancient Israelites, the best life was one that was focused squarely on this world, because every living person is formed from the dust of the earth and made alive by the breath of God (i.e., His Spirit).

Holiday seasons are times to contemplate future plans while looking back on past experiences. In fact, the Advent itself serves to help us maintain a spirit of reflection. As healthy as that may be, there comes a point when we need to think ahead, not look back. God's Word recounts an angel instructing Lot and his family to scamper out of Sodom and to resist looking back (Genesis 19). Lot's sons-in-law stonewalled part one of the directive and perished in the condemned city.