Our pastor this morning talked about how confused the believers were on the day of the first Easter: the day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
He remarked that none of them had ever seen a resurrection before. It was difficult for them to believe and understand what had happened at first and for a while thereafter.
He told the story of a professional sailor whom he knows. When the sailor is at sea, he misses home. Yet, when the sailor is at home he feels the call of the sea. When he is on land he is pulled to the sea and the smell of the salt air and the breeze. But, when he is at sea, it just doesn't seem as good as he remembered it. He talked about how the Christian life has confusion and is not all perfect. We still sin and at times we still doubt. We all have our battles we are fighting.
He made the point that we too, just like Christs followers that first Easter, have lots of questions and we don't need to wait until we have them all answered or until our doubts are all removed to become believers. Jesus takes us just as we are. He said we can bring all our "baggage" with us on the journey of faith.
After church, I was talking with some men about the sermon and mentioned "I don't know about you, but when I go on a vacation, I bring my baggage with me!" We all laughed.
There is so much truth in this. Life has it's ups and downs, but still we have hope. The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope because if we accept him as Lord and Savior, we also have the promise of the resurrection for us!
My wife and I went to the cemetery today. All I could think about is Matthew 27:53 and Thessalonians 4:16! Yay Jesus!
Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV): For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.Thessalonians 4:16 (NIV): For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Matthew 27: 50- 54 (NIV)
50: And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51: At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52: The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53: They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.... See More
54: When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Lord, Thank you that your resurrection shows us that we too will be resurrected if only we trust in you and give our lives to you. Romans 10:9-10
Do you believe?
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