"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: `The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again,” [Luke 24:1-7]
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” [Ephesians 2:4-10]
"I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” [Revelation 1:18]
We have had a very mild winter and a wonderful spring this year. Spring is an incredible reminder from God that there is life after death. While much of the earth lies dormant during winter, life returns in the spring. It’s no wonder why God planned Passover, Christ’s Resurrection and Pentecost all in the spring: God is the God of the living, not the dead! Jesus is alive now forever and ever. He can never die again now that He has conquered death by His righteous blood and complete trust in God. The empty tomb is now a powerful reminder that God is Mighty to save us from all sin and the penalty of sin –death. For all who now find hope in Christ, death is now dead. What a marvelous thought!
And our God does not disappoint! Just as Jesus rose from the dead, never to die again, all who die with Christ at the time of immersion baptism rise spiritually to never die again (by remaining in Christ our spirits forever live with Him). Just as Christ emerged from the empty tomb, so all who have died (bodily) in the Church of Christ will rise from the dead, never to die again, when He returns. The Scriptures even tell us that the nation of Israel, when it reappears, will return never to disappear again (a “physical resurrection”)… and when the Israelites accept Jesus as Savior en masse in the future, it will be “life from the dead” –an amazing resurrection that will take the world completely by surprise (a spiritual resurrection) [Romans 11]. And Israel has reappeared… never to die again (as a nation). And very soon, she will acknowledge her Messiah to the shouts of “Hosanna!” The Message of the Living Lord abounds all around us. Everywhere is the evidence of His love.
God even put a daily reminder in our lives to the resurrection. Every time we go to sleep and rise to a new day, we are reminded of the resurrection. And Christians are reminded to die to themselves daily, take up their cross and rise to a new life in Jesus every single day –every day is a new day in Christ! The old has gone, the new has come! He is the God of second, third, forth, one thousand, one million chances! Isn’t He Amazing!!! What a Mighty God we serve!!! His love endures forever and His mercy triumphs over judgment. His grace is more than enough for us to overcome this world and He is zealous to help those who earnestly seek Him. He is more than Able to provide for us on a daily basis and in our time of great need. Those who hope in the Lord are never disappointed because He is the God of the living, not the dead!
Remember what the empty tomb means. The power of the resurrection literally lives in every Christian. The Spirit of the Risen Lord lives in us! And that life is absolutely contagious. Church, live out your abundant life. Everywhere around us is the evidence of His love! Don’t let the devil convince you that you are dead. Remember the words of Jesus: “I was dead, but behold! I am alive for ever and ever!”
Amazed by His grace!
George