The best news of the Christian faith is that death has no hold through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. However, there is really only one step to get there.
1. DEATH
We must be willing to die. To die to ourselves. Our desires. Our selfish ambitions. Jesus did it by suffering a gruesome and bloody death experience. Thankfully most of us will never have to take it that far, some will, but most won’t. The death experience we face is death to self. That is not easy and not something everyone is willing to do.
Throughout scripture we can see many illustrations of people dying of themselves and it always took guts, passion and perseverance.
There is no doubt here in the Easter season we will see bunny ads, kids having fun looking for eggs and candy, retail sales opportunities and more. Obviously, that isn’t the point. Funny that a time of death is a celebration for most of us to enjoy.. OURSELVES.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having a good time or finding a great deal on the new “thing”, however, if a person wants to experience a true resurrection life we must do as Paul taught when he said:
1 Corinthians 15:30-33 The Message (MSG)
“
30-33 And why do you think I keep risking my neck in this dangerous work? I look death in the face practically every day I live. Do you think I’d do this if I wasn’t convinced of your resurrection and mine as guaranteed by the resurrected Messiah Jesus? Do you think I was just trying to act heroic when I fought the wild beasts at Ephesus, hoping it wouldn’t be the end of me? Not on your life! It’s resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live. If there’s no resurrection, “We eat, we drink, the next day we die,” and that’s all there is to it. But don’t fool yourselves. Don’t let yourselves be poisoned by this anti-resurrection loose talk. “Bad company ruins good manners.””
There but for the grace of God go I.
If it weren’t for Christ, I wouldn’t even have a chance to try this resurrection life. I have nothing in me that can obtain it. I can only get there through Christ and following his example. Paul taught it well, yes, we will have issues, we will fail and we will fall.
GET BACK UP AND DIE AGAIN!
Sounds awful. It is. But it is necessary. My friend, in this season of our time called spring and Easter, it is a perfect opportunity to reflect on life and how it is being lived. There are so many promises on the other side of resurrection. Once you have tasted and seen, it’s so hard to seek anything else.
I am no where near perfect, but I have gotten on this road to perfection. I may walk it, run it and crawl on it, but I will keep going on it.
You can too. Regardless of this life on our big planet, there is more and there is more NOW.
Choose Christ. Receive his grace, his love and his death and resurrection for YOU.
You will face opposition, pain and hard times, you will also face hope, life, joy and abundance like never before, so in whatever you do, and whatever you face, always remember….
#GodsGotThis