Does The Resurrection Affect You?

Does the Resurrection Affect You?

As is my manner, I will be a bit non-traditional this Easter or as I prefer this Resurrection Day. On many radio and TV stations as well as in the churches, you will hear preachers far more eloquent than I do a guided tour of the Crucifixion detailing and describing each step, each lash of the whip and the hammering of the nails. Some will spend many dollars on twenty-minute pageants. That is the traditional way and I fear many have come to expect that so much on Resurrection Day that they no longer truly hear the message. It has become a ritual and things get cloudy with all the Easter bonnets and bunny things that it is a great holiday, but not really a holy day as it should be.

I have some problems with $250,000 pageants, but I am certainly not opposed to graphic descriptions. Paul preached to the Galatians so well that they felt like they were literally at the crucifixion of Christ. They could see it happening in their minds and hear and feel the agony and pain. That is some preaching. (Gal. 3:1) I only wish it were done on a day without all the religious and pagan trappings. It deserves a day all to its own when each person’s mind is focused on its own need of that sacrifice and the heart cries out as they realize that they are the ones who caused His pain.

Yes, it is a celebratory time, but it needs to be balanced with some earnest reflection and meditation upon the reason why we can celebrate. It also needs to be looked at as more than just a historical narrative. Sometimes, I feel we get so comfortable with the story that it just becomes a story that we tell without it affecting us practically. That is my question to you. Does the Resurrection affect you?

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

(KJV)

Paul said that he was crucified with Christ. That speaks to death. No one was ever crucified and lived to tell about it except Christ. When you are dead there is nothing on this earth that appeals to you any longer. I can stick a wad of money in your face and you won’t want it. I can hold the keys to a Corvette and ask you if you want to take a spin and you won’t show any interest at all. You call the roll. What are the things you want the most in this life and work the hardest for? If you died right now, how much would they matter? Paul said that he died with Christ.

Ah, but he lives!!!! But wait a minute who is living? Looks like Paul. Sounds like Paul. Walks like Paul, but it is not Paul. He says that it is Christ living in him. Paul and all his old desires and plans are dead in the grave. Now, he can testify

Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. KJV

He has already gained from being dead and allowing Christ to live in him here, so what can he get but greater gain when he dies physically? He will then be in perfect union with Christ without any of the frailties of the flesh. He lives this life by faith granted him by the Son of God who loved him. How much better then will be the eternal life he will live in Heaven with the One who loved him enough to die for him?

Yes, there is great gain in dying to self and recognizing that when you were saved you were crucified with Christ. The old man is dead as far as God is concerned and we are to reckon ourselves dead and leave the old man in the grave!! He loved us enough to die for us, do we love Him enough to accept the death of our old man and live in that reckoning?

Rom 6:11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV

Paul was ecstatic that he was dead with Christ and that he was living a Christ filled life. While he had gained much and had much to gain when he went to glory, he still saw something he wanted to gain in this life.

Phil 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (KJV)