“Mysteries”
It is amazing how many mysteries exist on this side of heaven. Mysteries are not so much the things in our lives that we don’t understand. For example, I don’t understand electricity. It amazes me how a large body of water can be utilized to generate a power force that travels through wires so that I can sit in my home, see everything with the use of lights, and watch a sporting event while it is happening! I also don’t understand how a black and white cow eats green grass and gives white milk. (ok that was corny)
We usually don’t ponder deeply the many mysteries in our world until they somehow invade our lives and disrupt our “PLANS.” By the way, we learn in Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life that our greatest purpose for being here is to make God smile (i.e. that’s Worship). We are not however designed to make God laugh. I think that’s what He does many times when we tell Him our plans. (cf. James 4:13-17)
Back to the “mysteries” thing. When events or circumstances come our way that we don’t understand, suddenly the mysterious becomes our brain’s constant companion. We try to think about other things but that thing keeps intruding into our thoughts. We try to sleep or pray or — you get the point — and our minds keep going back to this unexplained phenomena.
There is a mystery surrounding the Easter Story that has been accompanying my thought life recently. Each year as our climate begins to warm, things begin blooming, (fish start biting — yeah), etc. the Church of Jesus Christ begins focusing our attention on this thing called the Resurrection! Actually, everyone starts focusing on this topic. News agencies will run stories about the Resurrection; tell how people still travel back to Jerusalem for this “Holy Season;” watch the Pope; and of course there’s the retail aspect with colored eggs, disgusting peeps (actually these are styrofoam decorated like candy); and the greatest of all, Reese Cup Eggs!!!! (Sorry, I got carried away)
The mystery I have pondered this year is not about the details of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ — trust me, it is a FACT! Instead, it occurs to me how God has reserved the Power of this History-Altering event for those who choose to Follow Him. In other words, just because many people physically go to a place of worship on Easter Sunday does not mean they are going to be “blown away” by the unbelievable Power that still flows from our Lord’s Victory over Death and the grave!
In short, while many more conclusions can be drawn, it is my feeling that we can confidently say that the Message of Salvation belongs to the World; but the Power of Christ’s Resurrection belongs to His Devoted Followers! We cannot expect those who do not know Christ to understand or to experience the same things we should in this Easter season. What we need to focus on is How His Resurrection Power is being displayed in and through our lives! Before anyone else can experience this life-changing power, they will have to “deny themselves, take up THEIR Cross and follow Jesus for themselves.” (Matthew 16:24)
Ponder for a few minutes how a Savior who rose from the dead over 2,000 years ago can have such a significant impact on the way we live our lives each day! Now that’s a Mystery. Even though I can’t explain it, like the electricity that runs through my house, I’m going to use it and enjoy the Power of His Resurrection!
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