Mention the word, “Easter,” and what comes to mind? Is it bunnies, Easter baskets and new clothes? Those are part of our Easter traditions. As far as I can remember, my family (grandparents, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings have colored Easter eggs on Saturday before Easter. It’s a time of great fellowship as we prepare for the main purpose of Easter—celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ our Lord. On Easter morn, we sing about the Resin Christ at church. We celebrate His victory over death and sin. But the question you must ask yourself is “Will I rise?
Will you rise from the darkness, suffering and deaths of your life? I believe you can by identifying with the Christ of Easter.
Darkness:
As Christ hung and suffered on the cross, darkness fell. Yet, He endured trusting that God would shine on Him again.
Will you rise from the darkness of your life?
We’ve all experienced dark days of suffering and pain. Yet, as Christians, we have hope. We know that eventually dawn will rise and the light of God’s Presence will price through our darkness once again and it will be a new day.
When you see the light break, what will you do? Will you stay in the shadow of darkness? Or, will you rise?
Betrayed:
On His way to the cross, a friend betrayed Christ. Have you ever been betrayed? Perhaps someone you loved and trusted turn his or her back on you and it cut you deeply. Your healing is found in the balm of forgiveness.
In His suffering, Christ called out, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they doing.”
Will you rise? Can you forgive them as Christ forgives you? There’s glory on the other side!
Arrested:
Like Christ, have you ever been arrested and held captive? Have doubts, wounds, ungodly habits, secret lusts, laziness, or hopelessness seized you? Freedom awaits you at the cross.
When Christ died, He put an end to the power of sin over you. Now, you are dead to sin and alive to God.
Will you accept what Christ has done for you so that He can live through you? It’s His life in you that makes you an overcomer. No need to fight the battle alone. Let Christ do the work! Will you rise?
Crucified:
Have you crucified your flesh? Do you daily nail your pride, bitterness, rights, self-indulgence, and sin to the cross and crucify it? One must die to self before she can experience the power of Christ within. Even Christ had to die before He received glory.
The Tomb:
As you lay your old nature in the tomb, you don’t stay there. You rise as Christ did on the third day! You rise to new life!
Some, however, stay in the tomb. They stay close to their old life not really wanting to let go. Like Lazarus, you remain bonded to that old life that is dead and buried.
Lazarus didn’t stay in the grave. Jesus called to Him as He calls to you today. “And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” Do you hear the call of Christ? Will you rise from the tomb?
“And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow” (Matt 28:2).
Risen to New Life:
This is the Good News of Easter! Christ did not stay in the grave. No matter how dark your life may be at this moment, no matter how many times you’ve been hurt, betrayed, or captured by sin, you don’t have to stay there. You can rise!
This Easter you can rise from death to life by the same resurrection power that raised Christ from the grave! Christ Lives! He longs to live in you!
If you would like to know Christ as your Savior and Lord, and rise to new life in Him, I invite you to click on: Know Christ.
Wishing you a happy and blessed Easter! Jesus Lives!
