I remember a philosophical crossroad in my teens when it was clear that either Jesus was who he claimed or life was basically a strange absurdity.
Of course, it wasn’t enough for Jesus to claim an ability to make me right with God through faith in him, there had to be a validation by God Himself about Christ. The Resurrection is that validation. Without his resurrection, Jesus is no real help to anyone and not really substantially different from all the various religious prophets and gurus whose corpses still lay in the ground. Would you trust a builder who couldn’t build his own house? Would you trust a mechanic who can’t fix his own car? Then why would you trust a “prophet” who claims to know the way to eternal life but couldn’t defeat death himself?
The crossroad is real, I hope everyone sees it- either the resurrection of Jesus Christ is true, or Albert Camus was right about life as an absurdity. All religions do NOT lead to the same place. Only one “religion” is lead by a living Savior. If he’s not alive, how could there be real answers with other dead promise makers? If Jesus didn’t rise we should all just fake as much meaning about this absurd life as we can, to pass our days, and hope it ends upon physical death. If Jesus did rise, we should all do our best to tell every person we know- so they can be saved from what awaits those who are not “in Christ”.
I am convinced by the eyewitnesses recorded in history and what the bible describes as assurance from God’s Spirit that Jesus did rise- so this is why I put forth this post to all those I know and love. He is risen.
2 comments:
You will find this a most interesting and providential testimony of God’s goodness and mercy. While on vacation in Savannah Ga, the night Cheri was down with the blown knee, I ventured down to the lounge by myself to get something to eat. I struck up a wonderful dialog with a fellow believer named Mike. We were talking about the horrible deaths of those who died in that German suicide plane crash in the Swiss Alps. Being a private pilot himself, Mike shared his thoughts on the tragedy. I found out he was Stephen Spielberg’s private pilot and was in Savannah being trained on “Dream Works” brand new GS650. Incidentally manufactured right there at Savannah’s airport. ( I told him about your sermon “you might be a heretic if..!” He laughed and then said the reason the Atlanta TV evangelist was seeking funds for a new GS650, was his pilot tried to land his GS300 on a prop only runway and crashed it into a ditch. It seems our TV preacher just failed to tell that story.) He shared Mr. Spielberg is married to a actress Kate Capshaw and that she is a strong believer. Just a week or so back he was flying Spielberg, George Lucas, Tom Hanks to a location for a new movie about the 1968 downing of the U-2 spy-plane. In the middle of the flight Kate was sharing her thoughts on Easter and the facts about resurrection. The conversation led to the B-Attitudes and Kate ask Mike to let the co-pilot take over, bring his bible and share his thoughts about Jesus’ teachings on each of the “attitudes.” Mike shared with me the conversation lasted well over an hour. He said he felt the Lord gave him the words to say and Jesus was glorified at 38,000 feet. What a wonderful God we have that He would allow me to hear first hand such a testimony. When I got back to the room Cheri got to hear this amazing story. When our taxi driver took us to the airport he showed us the huge Gulf Stream plant.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5: 10-12
Each Christian calendar event I try to focus on one particular aspect of the celebration. This Easter I meditated on the words Jesus said to the repentant thief on the cross next to Him: "Today you will be with me in paradise". I note that He didn't say, "I'll see you in three days!" Then I thought of the Apostle's Creed where it says "He descended into Hades (Hell in the modern wording) and rose again the third day." It would seem to me that that could account for the Scripture in Eph 4:8 "When He ascended on high, He led a host of captives ..." a concept that in my mind says His body remained in the tomb for 3 days, but in the Spirit He descended, etc. I view this much in the same way He is present at the celebration of Communion and yet at the same time is seated at the right hand of the Father. This continues a study I began several years ago about the dual nature of Christ. More thoughts to refute transubstantiation, etc.???
Post a Comment