WARNING PREACHY
Either He
does or he doesn’t, it’s a pretty straight forward approach. If a man who was executed actually rose back
to life from the dead then everything changes.
One day
back in 1994 I was living my life pretty enjoyably. I was young, single, I had a great job, I was
making great money, and my new employment had me living an hour from New York
City or Atlantic City (my choice). I was
living across the street from the Atlantic Ocean and saw the most amazing
sunrises each morning. I was living the
dream (for a single guy).
Living in
a new location and having a job that did not require me to work weekends left
me with plenty of time to think and of course introspection came into it. One of my thoughts was about God and
exploring what was true and what was not.
While doing this I was faced with the concept of the resurrection from
the dead.
Like every
American I had heard the claims of Jesus.
My mother was a Christian and forced me to church as a kid. I resented much, enjoyed some, but still I
had heard it. Then in 1994 I was on my
own, making my own decisions, thinking my own thoughts, and I had come face to
face with the question of whether a dead man actually had raised back to life
or not. And the thought occurred to me;
if I concluded that it was true then it must change everything for me. I reasoned that if anyone was allowed to
speak to me about life and death it was certainly the man (or woman) who had
been dead, was buried, and then rose back to life again.
I had
always been taught that something was true because “the Bible tells me so”. While my understanding of things was
basically because of just that, in retrospect I realize now that I had come to
believe that a dead man did rise back to life again because I had a spiritual “Ah-ha” moment - A moment when everything
in my soul seemed to align with the universe.
You can call it gas if you like but I was there, it was more than that. The realization I had was a very real spiritual
awakening for me that forever changed my life – and for the better I confess.
Today, the
biggest problem that we have in our country is that people do not really
believe that He Lives. I think they may believe
the Bible enough to go to church and struggle with religious morality but if
they actually believe in a resurrected man (who was dead and is now again alive) spiritually indwells them, that would change everything. And
I believe it's that straight forward.
Take time
and consider today if you sing the words He Lives with any real faith or if you just religiously
mouth the words believing just because the Bible tells you so. It really does make a difference.
John 20:19-22
On the evening of that first day of the week, when
the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish
leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After
he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed
when they saw the Lord.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father
has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6aBDS3drA
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He Lives…
I serve a
risen Saviour,
He's in
the world today;
I know
that He is living,
Whatever
men may say;
I see His
hand of mercy,
I hear His
voice of cheer,
And just
the time I need Him
He's
always near.
(Chorus)
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus
lives today!
He walks with me and He talks with
me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He live, salvation to
impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.
In all the
world around me
I see His
loving care,
And tho my
heart grows weary
I never
will despair;
I know
that He is leading
Thro' all
the stormy blast,
The day of
His appearing
Will come
at last.
(Chorus)
Rejoice,
rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up
your voice and sing
Eternal
hallelujahs
To Jesus
Christ the King!
The hope
of all who seek Him,
The help
of all who find,
None other
is so loving,
So good
and kind.
(Chorus)
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