"But in Fact . . .!"

This is Easter week! It is also called Passion week.  It culminates with Resurrection Sunday! So, here are some questions for you to ponder. Just what does it all mean? How does it change our lives? Does it change anything? What would happen if it had not happened?  Does it matter at all?

            In the first place, it matters more than anything in the world. Let me make this very clear. If Jesus did not die for our sins, and if He was not raised from the dead, then the whole of Christianity is a sham.  Every church building should be boarded up, the property sold, and the money used for something useful.  The entire Christian faith hinges on the reality of these historical truths.

            Paul said as much in 1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins.”  I once heard a man, in the midst of a debate, claim, “I don’t believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus, but I still consider myself a Christian.”  His opponent in the debate responded, “You can consider yourself a Big Mac, but that doesn’t make it so.”  No, the Christian faith depends on the resurrection.

            And that is where the good news comes to the forefront.  Just three verses later in his letter to the church at Corinth Paul wrote, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead!”  That is the good news of the gospel.  Jesus was executed on a cruel Roman cross on a Friday, but on Sunday morning He walked out of the grave, very much alive. And He is still alive today!

            And because He is alive, you and I can live forever!  Praise be to God! There is hope beyond the grave.  Do you have that hope? I pray that you do. And I hope you will find yourself in church this coming Sunday celebrating that hope.  There are wonderful churches all across McIntosh County.  Be there this week to celebrate this one fact. “He is not here. He is risen, just as He said.”  Jesus is alive!