Resources

Easter is Over…Now What?

Easter is Over…Now What?

By Simon Lang
 

A tick. What does it mean? It’s a symbol of approval indicating a bold, clear, definitive ‘Yes.’ ‘Spot on!’ ‘That’s right.’ ‘That’s good.’ It carries the authority of the one doing the ticking. They have declared that something is right or complete.

Have you ever thought of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as God’s tick? It’s God’s cosmic, affirmative ‘YES!’ for the whole world to see – that the death of Jesus struck its target, achieved its goal. In raising Jesus from the dead God the Father was making a clear declaration of “job done,” and He wants each one of us to hear that pronouncement too. So what is the box that the Resurrection ticks? The message of the Bible is that we’re all sinners, and that’s a problem: “None is righteous, no, not one ... all have turned aside.” (Romans 3:10-12, ESV) “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “… All our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” (Isaiah 64:6) “And you, who were dead in your trespasses ...” (Colossians 2:13) You see, left to ourselves, God’s judgment on us is an absolute ‘No!’

But the message of the Bible is also one of hope. Paul’s consistent message is that to those who are “in Christ” – who through faith share in Jesus’ death and resurrection – God declares an absolute ‘Yes!’ For in Christ we are declared holy and blameless, sons and daughters, redeemed, set free, forgiven, chosen, blessed, kept and sealed. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Do you hear the hope in this pronouncement – do you own it? Perhaps so, but do you struggle with knowing how to live it – living in light of God’s “cosmic tick”? If so, perhaps the following statements of “job done” can remind us how we can walk in light of God’s declaration of ‘Yes’ in Christ:

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
(Colossians 3:1-2)

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

“So you also must consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 6:11)

“Walk as children of light ... and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”
(Ephesians 5:8, 10)

“… press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:14)


In light of these passages and many more like them, I want to live as a ‘yes’ person. Please join me in praying that we would all take hold of our new lives in Christ, and build those lives on the solid rock that Christ accomplished on the cross and in God’s approval through His resurrection. Let’s ask God, that through the help of His Spirit He would help us to walk confidently onwards, trusting that “He who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Or to put it another way: “Job done; box ticked; let’s get to work!”



About the Author:  Simon Lang
 

 
Simon Lang