Alive to Thrive, Part 2 of 4
Based on 1 Peter 1:3-7
Jesus died for the sins of the world and rose again as an eternally living guarantee that everything He has said about eternity is true. For the naturalist, it’s the most unbelievable event in history. But if it’s true, it’s life-changing, history-shaping, and earth-shaking. So, is it true?
- Medically, experts agree that Jesus died and could not possibly have faked His death and then appeared well just three days later.
- The body of Jesus was definitely missing on Easter morning, as confirmed by the testimony of the soldiers guarding the tomb, the Jewish religious leaders, and the apostles. There was no way it could have been taken illegally and no other place where His body was ever found.
- There were many, many eye-witnesses of Jesus after His resurrection, starting with women. If the story were fabricated, those fabricating it would never have sought to confirm it through women who were not considered trustworthy sources of information in Jesus’ day. After the women, His disciples saw Him alive on multiple occasions, culminating with hundreds seeing Him before His ascension.
- The apostles believed in His resurrection so strongly that every single one of them was willing to die a martyr’s death defending the truth of it. Only John escaped martyrdom and he suffered persecution. All of them, and millions since, have not only defended the resurrection under threat of death, but also demonstrated the power of His resurrection in the way their lives so dramatically changed, and the way the entire world has been so deeply impacted by the truth of it.
That Jesus rose from the dead is something I believe with everything in me. The scriptures and the testimony of two thousand years of Christianity testify to it. But what difference does it make? Jesus did not die and rise again merely so that we might dedicated a religious holiday to Him and have a bunny hide sugar-stuffed plastic eggs. He died and rose again for much, much more.
Jesus’ death and resurrection means that I can live an entirely new life!
HOW TO LIVE WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS…
1. Start over under God’s mercy.
The Bible states that by His mercy, we have been born again, because God raised Jesus from the dead. The phrase “born again” is often misunderstood. What God has in mind is an entirely new nature. We are sinners, by nature, having broken God’s commandments. We aren’t ready for heaven as we are. We don’t know God personally as we are. We need to be made brand new by the forgiveness and mercy of God, which is found in a personal relationship with the living Jesus Christ.
You can be born again right here, right now, because the mercy of God is confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
2. Believe in God’s promises.
God promises some pretty amazing things to His children who believe in Him, and He lets us know that everything He has promised us for eternity is protected by His power in heaven. It cannot rot or rust. We have the promise of an eternity that is pure in a way unlike anything we’ve experienced thus far. And we can believe these promises because they are issued by a God who raised His Son from the dead!
3. Rest in God’s protection.
In God’s infinite power, He protects us, but the language used here doesn’t indicate a protection from harm by an outside force but rather protection of our soul by an inner force. It’s military language that refers to a garrison of soldiers that would rush together toward any breach in the walls of a city from the inside. God protects us by His Holy Spirit that takes up residence in our lives.
4. Rejoice in God’s tests.
Rejoicing isn’t about being happy. It’s not about “putting a smile on” regardless of our circumstances. Rather, it’s about choosing to identify with our rootedness in the gospel in spite of our situation. It’s a choice to be glad no matter what’s going on, especially knowing that our trials are temporary and they are purposeful.
5. Live for God’s smile.
Because of the resurrection, we get to live for the smile of God – for the honor and praise that we will share in in Christ someday. What a relief! I’ve struggled with approval addiction for much of my adult life and it’s miserable. Living for God’s smile alone allows me to relish in His love, His mercy, and His grace.
Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, we can live with great expectations!