Last night I was jogging while listening to a song by Misty Edwards called “People Get Ready.” The song builds and at one intense part she proclaims “He’s alive.”
“HE’S ALIVE!!!”
I began thinking on that while I went round and round the short indoor track I was on. “He’s alive!” That means that Jesus, who died, rose again and lives today. While we say that death is a certainty, Jesus turned that upside down. He beat death.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
Romans 6:1-5
So, just as Christ beat death, so have we. He is alive, and we are alive. And all the power that raised Jesus from the dead resides in those who are following Jesus as their Lord by faith.
Unfortunately, when I look at my life, it seems I should be singing something slightly different than “He’s alive.” I don’t live like everything is different now. I don’t live like I believe it. I doubt I can live like Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount, not worrying about food or clothes or money or life. I struggle when He says to give to everyone who asks and I grow uncertain when I think about turning the other cheek.
I hate to say it, but if my life is saying anything most of the time it isn’t “He’s alive”; instead, it is “He’s a lie.”
“He’s a lie.” It’s close, but that “v” some how goes silent when my actions speak.
All too often Christians will react to a message about going overseas on mission by saying “There’s a lot of people here in America that need Jesus, too.” We might even have a parent or a brother or sister who isn’t a Christian. It is so true that there is much ministry and evangelism to do in America. But I must ask, if Jesus told His followers to go to all the nations, and we don’t do that, what does it say about what we think of Jesus? God tells us that we show that we love Him when we obey His commands. John 14:15.
What will communicate loudly to those we love here?
When we do what He says.
When we sell out to Him.
When we make the greatest sacrifices to do whatever He asks and go wherever He leads.
Then, rather than living a life that says “He’s a lie,” we will be demonstrating our commitment to the truth that “He’s alive” and that “He’s alive in me.” He is all I need and He sustains me in all circumstances.
I want to live a life that leaves absolutely no doubt that I am hopelessly, head over heels in love with my Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.