April 20-Yahweh is Risen!

Tomorrow is Easter, the biggest, most important day of the year a Christian celebrates. This is the day we remember that Jesus Christ himself conquered death and the grave and brought life and immortality to light for all of us. When Jesus cried “It is finished” and He died, the veil of the temple that separated the holy of holies, that kept man from God, was torn from the top to the bottom. Jesus’ death opened the gate for us to directly approach God. We can enter into the presence of God at anytime we want, nothing between our soul and our Savior. We sing Hallelujah to the Lion and the Lamb. 


“And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead...And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins...And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:14-15, 17, 19‬ ‭NLT‬‬


I love how Paul makes this so very crystal clear. Either Jesus was raised from the dead and it’s all true and it changes everything or He wasn’t and all this is useless and it’s all for nothing. We have to make our decision. One of the biggest tests of credibility for me (from a historical perspective) is the testimony of the apostles. They (along with most of the other eye-witnesses) faced horrible deaths for their testimony and they knew they truth. What could they possibly gain by dying as they did for a lie? These weren't just religious zealots dying for a religious belief, but these were followers of Jesus—the one true God—dying because they KNEW they would live again. They’d seen the resurrected Christ, touched Him and talked to Him, hence what did the sting of death hold over them? As Paul says “Oh death where is your sting? Grave where is your victory? Thank God He gives us power over them with Jesus!” I Cor 15


Sometimes, we let ourselves be separated as though that veil can heal itself. We let sin and guilt separate us from our Holy God. But God tore through that veil more than 2,000 years ago when Jesus finished the job. It’s gone for good, if not, Christ died in vain. Trust in the cross. Don’t ever hesitate or doubt that our Father is waiting for us at anytime to enter into His presence with repentance, thanksgiving and praise. 


Lord Jesus we thank you for your great gift of salvation and open access. It’s so hard today to find words to offer you the right offering. Your gift was so great and ours, so small. You tore the veil so that we might be able to have entry into your holy presence. We are desperate for you and we worship and adore you. Praise you great Jehovah, the cross made the difference for all of us, the horrible, terrible, cruel death you suffered bought us life and light eternal. Holy, holy, holy you truly are! We shout your Name because we know as the Apostle Paul surely knew, it is not in vain because you WERE raised and live again this day. Praise the Lamb. Amen and amen. 


Yahweh is risen dear friend! Happy Easter. Love you,

Pam



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