The Event of a Lifetime!

 

What battles are you going to fight? What do you feel so passionate about that you will defend your stance without question ? So many of our responses to that question are about politics or political stands. I had a lady come in to check out “the meeting place” yesterday. She was curious about the meeting place and wanted to know how political it got. I can say that our discussions groups rarely delve into politics. Our conversations are focused on the Lord. There was a part of my life where I could not say that.

I stand on the cross of Jesus. By that I mean there is nothing more important than Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. And really if I had to narrow that down it would be the resurrection. Here is why:

“But tell me this — since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-14)

This is the issue that we will die for. This is the one point that no one will be able to take from us. Jesus defeated death and rose again. What an amazing miracle. And Paul knew that was the point. The entire New Testament and many of the Old Testament teachings focused on that one thing. Do you ever doubt that happened? I hope not. There are a lot of resources available that can help defeat that doubt from books like The Case for Christ, Cold Case Christianity, and Why I trust the Bible. All three of these are really great reads.

The greatest resource to prove the reality of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is a deep dive into God’s word combined with great critical reading of scripture. Take Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20. If you read these chapters separately, it looks like the accounts of the resurrection are completely different. But close reading show they are not contradictory. They are complementary accounts that share the message to a particular audience, with a very specific message. They are ALL true and are relevant to our lives today. We are saved only through that single event! Praise God! 

“And he [Jesus] said, ‘Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. Is was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.” You are witnesses to these things.” (Luke 24:46-48)

This is it, the good news that we are supposed to share with others. It is freedom, it is joy, it is eternal life for all who believe.