Living Words

What we believe about life, the 'truths' that are soil from which our dreams grow, is important. Why? Because we act today in ways, consciously and unconsciously, to own our dreams and avoid our nightmares! If I believe that I need a lot of money to be happy, I'll focus my efforts on creating wealth. If I believe that success is defined by ownership of things, I will work to increase my pile of possessions. If I believe that 'clothes make the man' I will make certain I am dressed fashionably. People do amazing things in attempts to make their dreams come true! Believer, what do you dream? The way to create a vision that is worth living for is to know the Truth, to let the Word of God inform your mind and shape your values.

The words -"He is Risen!" were uttered millions of times in the last 24 hours, 'round the world. Are they to be believed? John ran with Peter to the Tomb, saw the empty grave clothes and believed. Peter was there, too, but he went back to Galilee to take up fishing again, not really believing until He met the Master on the beach by a fire. Thomas scoffed when some of the disciples told him, 'we have seen the Lord!' But days later he was with them when the Risen Lord appeared and said to him, "Touch my scars; see and believe!" Those men were radically changed by what they believed, traveled far and wide telling the Story, and each died a martyr's death. People don't live like that unless they are convinced they have the Truth!

"He is Risen!" Today, we have the opportunity to translate those words into action. What we do will show if we really believe the words or if they are just religious language, an observance of tradition. As I closed the sermon yesterday, I turned to Paul's summation of the truth of the Resurrection of Christ. He understood that the fact that Jesus defeated death was the keystone of our faith. "And if Christ weren’t raised, then all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever." (1 Corinthians 15:17, The Message) "There is a nice symmetry in this: Death initially came by a man, and resurrection from death came by a man. Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, The Message) "With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:58, The Message) The Resurrection is the proof of our faith, the model of our eternal life, and the reason we turn our back on short-term pleasure to do the work of the Kingdom of God.

I am totally convinced that I will live in beyond the grave! I have no doubt that I will stand before God to give an accounting and to receive an eternal reward. The story of Christ's Resurrection is the foundation for my hope of an eternal home. I am living today in the full assurance that 'because He lives, I will live also!'

Don't let the skeptics rob you of the amazing truth of Jesus' Resurrection. Don't allow those who doubt all things of faith to turn the wonderful truth into a myth. It is the cornerstone of our faith. Soak your mind in the testimony of the Scripture and invite the Spirit to make the proclamation that Jesus lives a fact you own for yourself.

"He lives! He lives!
Christ Jesus lives today.
He walks with me, and talks with me,
along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives!
Salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!

- Alfred Ackley, public domain