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April 2007 The Comeback Champion Jesus sums up the history of His life in one verse. Revelation 1:18 He said, " I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive forever more and have the keys of death and hell." When Jesus summed it all up He didn't mention one miracle that He performed or one parable that He taught. If all Jesus had done when He came to the earth was teach and perform miracles then sin could not be forgiven, satan would not be defeated and bondages could not be broken. But, when Jesus reached the focal point of His purpose for coming to this earth He said, "I am He that liveth and was dead and behold, I am alive forever more". Because He died and rose again, your sin and mine can be forgiven, your bondage can be broken, satan can be defeated, and the church is alive and well on planet earth. You see there is one main difference between every other religion in the world and Christianity. Every other religion in the world has for it's foundation, a set of moral teachings and a leader who is dead and buried, but Christianity has for it's foundation, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God. This is what separates Christianity from every other religion in the world. Therefore, the resurrection means Jesus was who He claimed to be and Jesus had the power He claimed to have, and Jesus always does what He promises what He will do. So today I am glad that I am not bowing in a Buddhist temple or serving in a Shinto shrine. I am glad that I am not worshiping a Hindu cow or licking a New Age crystal. I am glad that I am not connected with Rev. Sung Young Moon. You have to go higher than the moon, you have to go to the S-O-N. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through Me." We know what the resurrection means but the question has been raised, "Why does it matter?". It matters because my past can be forgiven. Because of what Jesus did, you can start over again and you can have a new beginning. It states in 2 Cor. 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: behold, all things are become new." It matters because my present problems can be managed and overcome. See, He has the power He claims He has. The resurrection speaks that there is a power greater than our own power. God never meant for us to live this life in our own power or strength. He never meant for us to struggle and find our own way through the maze and fog of life. The resurrection means that He not only lives again, but that He lives in me and I can have a relationship with Him. Through that relationship, He makes available the same power that raised Him from the dead. Lastly my future is secure because Jesus can do what He promised He would do. Jesus said, "Fear not for I have the keys of death and hell." Many people have so much fear of the future they turn to palm reading, crystal balls, and horoscopes in an attempt to discover their purpose and prepare for their future. However, there is no security outside of Jesus. The world only offers maximum security, not something that we want. I cannot give you one ounce of hope if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The word declares in 1 Pet. 1:3, " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead". In conclusion, we need to stand before an empty tomb and hear the words, "fear not" again. It's not just enough to know what it means, but to know that it matters for your life personally. Rom. 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." | |||