“Is there anything that you are doing that is mocking Christ’s death?” This was a question asked by the Associate Pastor of my church during prayer, and I followed it up with another question, “How are you living out the resurrection?”
During this Holy Week, it is a time to reflect on what Christ really means to you. How has your life reflected Him? Is what you’re doing really demonstrating that you understand the suffering Jesus went through for you? If not, then what needs to change in your life: maybe it is the language you use, the movies you watch, the images you let penetrate you mind or the sounds you let pierce your ears. Maybe it is none of those things, but something completely different. Only you will know whether or not your life is reflecting Christ in all that you do, both in your private life (thoughts) and your public life (outward actions).
1 Corinthians 15:32-34, “If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
The resurrection is one of the most important events in the Bible, if not the most important. It is when Christ defeats sin, death and secures our eternal lives if we believe in Him. As Paul says above, if there is no resurrection then we should “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Meaning, if Christ has not risen then we should act upon all our sinful desires, because there is nothing after this. Enjoy it now, for there is nothing to look forward to in the next life.
But, this is not how we live as Christians, at least we are not supposed to. We are to live as this is a temporal place. We are here to be the examples to others, set apart from the world and planting seeds. If we truly believe the resurrection and understand the crucifixion then how we act, think, and speak would all be reflective of this. Our lives would revolve around the Bible, Church and Spiritual activities and not just fitting those things into our worldly schedules. Our worldly schedules would revolve around Christ and what He believes to be important.
Take time to pray this week and ask God to show you how you are mocking the cross of Christ and not living out the resurrection and then thank Him for showing you. Then live it out. James 2:18-24, “But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”
I will end with the words of Peter, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy. Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear” (1 Peter 1:13-17).
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