CHRIST'S GLORIOUS RESURRECTION

 Author Larry Moody wrote, “We are not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying. We are in the land of the dying going to the land of the living.” The Bible is clear that death does not end our existence. Death is the passage way to another life that is endless. Whether in heaven with God, or in hell separated from Him forever. Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28,29). This week Christian’s take time to reflect on the passion & death of Christ, climaxed by the His resurrection from the dead. Jesus demonstrated that death was impotent to hold Him in its’ grasp. Graves are often referred to as a man’s final resting place. Nothing could be further from the truth. The women who came to anoint the body of Jesus on Sunday found His tomb empty. “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:1-3). What was running through their minds at that moment?  We don’t have to guess at the answer; they didn’t know what to make of it as we are informed, “And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? HE IS NOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN:” (Luke 24:4-6a). Talk about shock and awe! Praise God for His power and victory over man’s greatest enemy. Our blessed Savior was “…declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4): 

Because Jesus was victorious over death and is alive now at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3), everyone who believes in Him will also live forever with Him. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (1 Corinthians 15:52-55)?  As you celebrate the resurrection of Christ this Sunday take time to express your praise to God for the promise of eternal life because Jesus triumphantly rose from the dead. Also, be sure to thank God that your loved ones who “died in Christ” are with Him now and shall be with Him forever. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Christians who have died are indeed absent from their physical bodies and present with the Lord awaiting that grand resurrection day when their bodies will be resurrected and fashioned in the likeness of Christ’s glorious resurrected body.

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom