Pastor’s Corner: “Path from the Grave”
Proverbs 15:24 (NLT) – 24 The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind.
Being a pastor for the last 10 years has been filled with many challenges and many great joys. I cannot remember all the challenges, but I can always remember the joys. They have names and faces. They are you. What brings me the most joy as a pastor is the privilege and honor of witnessing God turn people’s lives right sight up. When they have experienced liberation from addictions or left behind lifestyles of hatred and violence, they have become truly new. They have walked out of the grave!
How is this possible? The key to transformation is the empty tomb on Easter morning. If there had been an inscription over the tomb of Jesus Christ, it might have read, “Don’t worry—I’m just borrowing this for the weekend,” because He was only in that grave for about three days before He rose again from the dead. Paul spells out the impact of that empty grave when he writes in Romans 6:4 (NLT) – 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
Easter is obviously a big deal in the life of Jesus. But it’s a big deal for you and me too! The power of the risen Lord breaks addictions, melts hatreds, and gives each of us a sense of purpose to live as resurrection people. The expression “live a new life” literally means “walk a new life.”
The God we serve loves to take walks. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). He walked with his Old Testament people through the wilderness into the promised land (Exodus 40:36-38). In Christ, He walked the dusty streets of Israel and then walked out of an empty tomb on Easter morning. Why? So that we could personally walk with him into the fresh life of Easter victory!
Are you still wearing grave clothes? What did you bring into your Christian life that should have been left behind? What binds your mouth, your hands, your feet, and keeps you from glorifying God? Listen to Life Himself (Jesus). He is saying that you need to have your grave clothes unwrapped and thrown away. This will be a testimony of what Christ has done for you in giving you NEW LIFE. Throw away your grave clothes; they are a poor outfit for a living person!
Jesus wants to touch the deadness of your life today. Christ has walked out of the grave, making a way for you to leave your grave behind too! Lean on Jesus, the Savior—who knows you and is walking with you into new life. TRUST HIM!
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton