Resurrection

Had you not lived the perfect life
To die for our sins through Your strife
Then risen from the dead,
Oh where would mankind be instead?
Every deed and everything would be
Nothing more than vanity.
No sun nor moon in its full scope
Would we have to hold to with hope.
The grave would laugh in victory
And vain would be man's history.
The body would only decay
As a maggot's banquet, eaten away.
Pain on earthy would be just the start
Of what through hell's gates waits for the heart.
Had You not risen, all is vain,
But You did rise and forever reign
And through Your love be too can be
Risen with You in eternity!

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14).

Did you know that everything you do depends on the power of Christ’s cross? Your cup of coffee in the morning, your drive to work, picking up the kids from school, your homework, all depend on the power of Christ’s cross.

First, without Christ’s cross, our entire existence would be separated from God now and forever and be utterly meaningless. As our soul is sentenced to separation from God, so what we said or did is sentenced along with us. If we are not redeemed, our actions cannot be considered worthy. Without the rejuvenating work of God’s presence in our lives after salvation, even “good deeds” are sinful because they are not done with a renewed heart focused on pleasing God. But because of what Jesus did and what God the Father did in giving up His Son, we can dwell with Him forever.

So that brings me to my second point, that because of Christ’s cross, God can dwell with us presently through His Holy Spirit, and every moment of our lives now has the potential for positive eternal ramifications. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Aren’t we always doing something in our body? Then we can always glorify God. We can always worship. Now I had said on day three that I’m not sure it really matters to God whether we eat peanut butter and jelly or turkey for lunch, but He does care about our attitude with which we eat it. Are we thankful? Do we spend it with a hurting co-worker, or would we rather be alone or even go to a restaurant with people we like better? Do we watch the TV, or spend that time letting our child tell us about his science project and so show him he is important?

Without the power of Christ’s cross, nothing could mean anything, but because of the power of Christ’s cross, anything has the potential to mean everything.

If you enjoyed this material, please leave a like or comment on my blog and you can purchase my book, Learning to Love: A Collection of Poetry and 40 Daily Devotions, on Amazon. Until next time, God bless.