“He [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).
At dawn on the first day of the week, two women named Mary visited Jesus’ tomb. According to Luke 24:2 they were carrying spices. They were expecting to anoint Jesus’ body, but they encountered what they would never have expected. The tomb was empty. Jesus had risen, and an angel was sitting on the stone he had rolled away from the mouth of the tomb!
Those who guarded the tomb were petrified, and the arriving women must have been more than a little afraid too. However, the angel told them not to fear because Jesus had risen, just as He had promised. “Come and see the place where he lay,” the angel instructed (Matthew 28:6).
The empty tomb stands as a testimonial to the deity of Jesus Christ. No mere mortal could rise from the dead. It also serves as evidence that God accepted Jesus’ payment for our sins on the cross. By shedding His blood for us Jesus gained our justification, a right standing in God’s sight. God sees believers as eternally forgiven and righteous in Christ.
No religion can claim a risen founder, but Christianity is different. Christians rest their faith on a Savior who died and rose again.
An empty tomb provides proof that we too shall live. Jesus Himself said, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).
Nothing is too hard for our living Lord. After all, He arose from the dead!
By Jim Dyet © 2008. "Jesus Cares" (Anchor, Haven Ministries)
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Beyond the Sunrise
“Beyond the Sunset” may be the most frequently song played or sung at funerals, although “Amazing Grace” seems to be running a close second. The words of “Beyond the Sunset” are okay, but I think the title should be changed to “Beyond the Sunrise.” After all, what lies beyond a sunset? Night and darkness!
A sunrise, on the other hand, introduces a new day with a fresh slate of opportunities and activities. Light follows a sunrise. So does renewed energy. We feel invigorated in the morning but tired—perhaps exhausted—after sunset.
When a Christian dies, he enters heaven and enjoys eternal life. His energy level there is unprecedented and his joy is unending. Trouble, pain, and sorrow cannot touch him in heaven, where glory and beauty surround him. Nighttime never falls in heaven, because God’s eternal day never ends. Best of all, in heaven the Christian beholds his glorious Savior, a glory that outstrips the glory of the sun.
The apostle John looked back on his relationship with Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry and recalled, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Years later, John caught a glimpse of Jesus in the heavenly New Jerusalem and testified the Lamb [Jesus] is its Lamp (Revelation 21:23). Our cities on earth may experience blackouts, but the New Jerusalem draws its light from an unfailing Source. The Lamp will never flicker or fail!
Christianity is not drab, because Jesus is glorious. Because He purchased our redemption and we believed on Him, we will spend eternity in glorious light, not darkness. So shouldn’t we start singing “Beyond the Sunrise”?
© From Moments of Grace by Jim Dyet and Joe Ragont
A sunrise, on the other hand, introduces a new day with a fresh slate of opportunities and activities. Light follows a sunrise. So does renewed energy. We feel invigorated in the morning but tired—perhaps exhausted—after sunset.
When a Christian dies, he enters heaven and enjoys eternal life. His energy level there is unprecedented and his joy is unending. Trouble, pain, and sorrow cannot touch him in heaven, where glory and beauty surround him. Nighttime never falls in heaven, because God’s eternal day never ends. Best of all, in heaven the Christian beholds his glorious Savior, a glory that outstrips the glory of the sun.
The apostle John looked back on his relationship with Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry and recalled, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Years later, John caught a glimpse of Jesus in the heavenly New Jerusalem and testified the Lamb [Jesus] is its Lamp (Revelation 21:23). Our cities on earth may experience blackouts, but the New Jerusalem draws its light from an unfailing Source. The Lamp will never flicker or fail!
Christianity is not drab, because Jesus is glorious. Because He purchased our redemption and we believed on Him, we will spend eternity in glorious light, not darkness. So shouldn’t we start singing “Beyond the Sunrise”?
© From Moments of Grace by Jim Dyet and Joe Ragont
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Pot and the Kettle
The U.S. Government is getting bigger and more controlling. On the road to socialism, it is telling the private sector how to manage its affairs. It doles out big money to failed businesses but reserves the right to dictate to those businesses. It scolds them for not having a quick recovery plan in place, and it recently demanded that an auto industry CEO resign. It seems to me that, as our government grows, our personal freedom shrinks and our free market system suffers.
I’m sure we want American corporations to enjoy a quick financial recovery and adopt sound financial accountability, but isn’t it ironic that the U.S. Government is telling them to get their finances in shape? Government spending is out of control and our national debt is at an all-time high. The pot is calling the kettle black.
If you and I managed our finances the way our federal government manages its, we would be homeless, carless, and penniless.
Jesus said something about the pot calling the kettle black. Well, He didn’t use that terminology, but He spoke against hypocrisy. He asked, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3–5).
The plank in Big Brother’s eye is growing bigger every day.
I’m sure we want American corporations to enjoy a quick financial recovery and adopt sound financial accountability, but isn’t it ironic that the U.S. Government is telling them to get their finances in shape? Government spending is out of control and our national debt is at an all-time high. The pot is calling the kettle black.
If you and I managed our finances the way our federal government manages its, we would be homeless, carless, and penniless.
Jesus said something about the pot calling the kettle black. Well, He didn’t use that terminology, but He spoke against hypocrisy. He asked, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3–5).
The plank in Big Brother’s eye is growing bigger every day.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Fickle Weather
Last night’s weather forecast called for up to a foot of snow to arrive during the night. I expected to have to clear snow from our driveway to find our morning newspaper. However, the driveway was bare. The snowstorm must have taken a detour.
March and April are Colorado Springs’ snowiest months. December through February is usually a dry and sunny time of year. Spring is our winter, and winter is our spring. Local weather forecasters must find it very difficult to predict what will happen in a 24-hour period. I’m sure the mountains play a big role in our weather’s fickle nature. So I don’t put much credence in weather predictions.
Nor do I put much credence in detailed prophetic predictions. I believe Jesus will rapture the Church, but I don’t attach any degree of reliability to those who predict a date. I prefer to leave the timing in God’s hands.
This morning, local weather forecasters said dry air might have delayed the snow. It may arrive later today, they advised.
Jesus may come for the Church before any snow arrives, but notice I said “may.” In the meantime, I’ll keep my eyes on the sky and my snow shovel close by.
March and April are Colorado Springs’ snowiest months. December through February is usually a dry and sunny time of year. Spring is our winter, and winter is our spring. Local weather forecasters must find it very difficult to predict what will happen in a 24-hour period. I’m sure the mountains play a big role in our weather’s fickle nature. So I don’t put much credence in weather predictions.
Nor do I put much credence in detailed prophetic predictions. I believe Jesus will rapture the Church, but I don’t attach any degree of reliability to those who predict a date. I prefer to leave the timing in God’s hands.
This morning, local weather forecasters said dry air might have delayed the snow. It may arrive later today, they advised.
Jesus may come for the Church before any snow arrives, but notice I said “may.” In the meantime, I’ll keep my eyes on the sky and my snow shovel close by.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Jay Has Left the Stadium
He’s gone! Jay Cutler has left Denver. He put his $2 million house up for sale and moved to Chicago. He is now da Bears’ quarterback.
The Broncos had planned on Jay’s throwing arm to carry them to another Super Bowl, but along came a new coach, Josh McDaniels, who talked about possibly trading Jay. The word “trade” dug into Jay’s feelings like a sharp knife. He knew how to cope with the disappointment of having his passes intercepted, but he couldn’t deal with the angst caused by the word “trade.” How could any coach trade him? After all, by his own admission, his stronger throwing arm is stronger than John Elway’s.
So Jay sulked and refused to show up for team meetings. He even refused to return owner Pat Bowlen’s telephone calls.
I think most Denver fans think Jay acted like a baby. They had hoped for a quarterback with a psyche like his strong throwing arm. Although some fans blame the new coach for Jay’s departure and call him a New England carpetbagger, most Denverites blame Jay. They see him as a little baby with a big arm.
Now Jay is in Chicago, where he can enjoy a Gino’s deep-dish pizza or a Portillo’s hot dog. While he is swallowing some of Chicago’s outstanding food, maybe he will also swallow his pride.
Sensitive feelings are not limited to idolized sports figures; they come packaged in immature church members too. It is not uncommon for a church member to develop hurt feelings if he or she hears talk of a “trade.” The Minister of Music wants to move a sensitive person from choir director to the soprano section. Suddenly, the choir director fails to show up at choir practice, and begins to shop around for a new church home.
A soloist in one church I pastored kept a written record of how often he sang and how often each of the other soloists sang. He complained when he spent more time “on the bench” than the others. Eventually, he left the church and took his hurt feelings to another church.
Jay Cutler has given a new meaning to Jaywalking, and Jaywalking is not a pretty sight in sports or in church.
The Broncos had planned on Jay’s throwing arm to carry them to another Super Bowl, but along came a new coach, Josh McDaniels, who talked about possibly trading Jay. The word “trade” dug into Jay’s feelings like a sharp knife. He knew how to cope with the disappointment of having his passes intercepted, but he couldn’t deal with the angst caused by the word “trade.” How could any coach trade him? After all, by his own admission, his stronger throwing arm is stronger than John Elway’s.
So Jay sulked and refused to show up for team meetings. He even refused to return owner Pat Bowlen’s telephone calls.
I think most Denver fans think Jay acted like a baby. They had hoped for a quarterback with a psyche like his strong throwing arm. Although some fans blame the new coach for Jay’s departure and call him a New England carpetbagger, most Denverites blame Jay. They see him as a little baby with a big arm.
Now Jay is in Chicago, where he can enjoy a Gino’s deep-dish pizza or a Portillo’s hot dog. While he is swallowing some of Chicago’s outstanding food, maybe he will also swallow his pride.
Sensitive feelings are not limited to idolized sports figures; they come packaged in immature church members too. It is not uncommon for a church member to develop hurt feelings if he or she hears talk of a “trade.” The Minister of Music wants to move a sensitive person from choir director to the soprano section. Suddenly, the choir director fails to show up at choir practice, and begins to shop around for a new church home.
A soloist in one church I pastored kept a written record of how often he sang and how often each of the other soloists sang. He complained when he spent more time “on the bench” than the others. Eventually, he left the church and took his hurt feelings to another church.
Jay Cutler has given a new meaning to Jaywalking, and Jaywalking is not a pretty sight in sports or in church.
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