Because He Lives
Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Today is Good Friday. One of my kids asked me a while back why we call this day “good”. The reality of what Christ endured on the cross, coupled with knowing that it was our sins that put Him there, can leave us wondering the same thing. The answer to my child’s question and to our wondering is this: the tomb is empty. That is why we call today Good Friday.
Sure, the cross was horrid and shameful. But it was the necessary step that had to be taken in order for that tomb to be the emblem of hope for all eternity. Because He lives we can live also!
Paul lists several things that would be different had Christ not risen from the dead:
- The Gospel would be powerless.
- Faith would be misplaced.
- Our sin would be unforgiven.
- We would experience eternal death.
- We would be most miserable.
That last point is preceded by these words in the text: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ…”
But He Is Risen! All attempts to prove that Christ never died are done in vain. Everyone who has cried that the tomb is empty was the wrong tomb has been hushed. In fact, no one at the time of Christ’s resurrection tried to say the tomb wasn’t empty, rather they attempted to say the disciples stole the body. Why would they do that? Because they knew the tomb was empty.
Because He lives we have joy instead of misery.
Because He lives we have hope that breaks through all doubt.
Because He lives we have the opportunity to live with Him in eternity.
Because He lives our sins can be forgiven, and His Gospel is powerful.
Some of our teens introduced a song to our church a few weeks that says this in the bridge:
Fear and depression, Shame and confusion – you have to bow!
All lesser things that demand my attention – You have to bow!
This is only made possible because He lives!
Because He lives the culture’s demands and the enemy’s fight against our youth can be overcome. Because He lives the fear and the depression that is running rampant within our younger generation can be defeated. Because He lives we are not powerless in fighting the enemy. We are more than conquerors, because He lives!
Because He lives we can worship a Savior that did everything we needed Him to do. We can worship a living God that reigns in complete authority over death, hell, and the grave. Because He lives…You can finish that sentence with statements such as “my family can get saved,” “I can be healed of my disease,” “I have overcome my past,” “I can resist temptation.” There’s no limit to what we can see Him do in our lives BECAUSE HE LIVES!
Because He lives…
All questions and comments can be sent to Kenneth Crews at [email protected]