And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain... And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins... If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
~1 Corinthians 15: 14, 17, 19-22~
Resurrection Sunday is right around the corner. The end of the season of Lent marks a time of thankfulness for the beautiful sacrifice that our LORD made for us, as well as a time of celebration for His victory over the grave.
God the Son has conquered death! So, why does it seem as if His body (the Church) is six feet under?
Are we living like we have risen from the dead? For, as Christians, isn't that what we have done? Christ has saved us from death, from a lifeless and ephemeral existence. He defeated death so that we may defeat it as well.
We sit and lament about all that is wrong with the world around us. We think, "if only others would come to us, accept us..." We sit in our pews "waiting on the world to change." But, as His body, we need to go out, show the world His love, live His Word, embrace His creation!
Resurrecting Christ's body (we, His followers) is essential to serving His Kingdom. Just as our faith is dependent upon the truth of His rising from the dead, our future in His Kingdom is dependent upon our rising from the death that is our secluded and passionless existence.
Though eternal life in Heaven starts after His second coming, new life began with His first; we should be changed and making changes.
Being changed means not living in the same sins we lived in before, only with the title of "Forgiven." Being changed means opposing ALL sin, even those "small" sins that are so easily accepted.
Making change means being so committed to Christ that your life serves as the most compelling witness to His Resurrection. Making change means doing as Christ did; going OUT into the world! This does not mean handing out tracts (not that there is anything wrong with that...) or shouting "Jesus died for you!" on street corners. This means forming relationships, living with people (believers and non-believers alike).
Read the Gospels, see how Jesus and His Apostles lived, they lived AMONGST the people, SERVING the people. Are we living this way?
He rose! In His name, let us rise as well!
Though eternal life in Heaven starts after His second coming, new life began with His first; we should be changed and making changes.
Being changed means not living in the same sins we lived in before, only with the title of "Forgiven." Being changed means opposing ALL sin, even those "small" sins that are so easily accepted.
Making change means being so committed to Christ that your life serves as the most compelling witness to His Resurrection. Making change means doing as Christ did; going OUT into the world! This does not mean handing out tracts (not that there is anything wrong with that...) or shouting "Jesus died for you!" on street corners. This means forming relationships, living with people (believers and non-believers alike).
Read the Gospels, see how Jesus and His Apostles lived, they lived AMONGST the people, SERVING the people. Are we living this way?
He rose! In His name, let us rise as well!
