Life Made New!
April 6th, 2010
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by admin · Filed Under: Faith · Guidance · Spiritual Health · life
In the Easter story, one particular image in the gospel of John captures me; it is the image of Mary weeping as she stoops and peers into the tomb. The body of Jesus has disappeared. But right there quite close to her, standing near her shoulder, is a figure simply waiting for her to turn around, to turn from the tomb to life.
How often do we find ourselves in situations where we think it’s all over, that there’s nothing and nowhere to turn? Yet all we have to do is look away from the problem, away from the darkness and from what seems to be; then we can see that which we thought was dead has risen and is still alive in us.
We hear the Easter celebrant declare, “He is risen! Christ is risen!”
But what does that mean? Is it only an event which happened over 2000 years ago? Or is it something which can happen in our lives today?
The truth is, Easter is all about life made new again. When we think it’s over, it’s not. We have a God that makes the impossible possible.
When the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were flying their first airplane in 1903, an astronomer named Simon Newcomb was writing a thesis about the impossibility of being able to fly. He said, “There is no possible combination of known substances, known forms of machinery, and known forms of force that can be united in a practical machine by which men shall fly long distances through the air. It is impossible.”
You’ve got to be careful who you are listening to, and who you hang out with, because it can destroy your potential.
The Wright brothers’ father was a minister, who also founded the Union Theological Seminary. When he saw his two boys seemingly limited to working repairing bicycles, he decided to share with them his philosophy about the empty tomb and the ability to rise up into newness of life.
He said, “I shared with them my philosophy about the empty tomb and then I just stood back to watch them fly.” How wonderful it is to have someone who encourages us like that and then stands back to watch us fly, to see the potential within us take flight.
The truth is that the potential for triumph is still there, the potential to rise above limitation is still there.
In another version of the Easter story (in Matthew 28), we read that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (the mother of Jesus) went to the tomb. The stone that blocked the entrance had been rolled away and an angel sat upon it. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid.”
Not knowing what to do after the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples hid in a room together. They were depressed, they were down. Then Jesus appeared to them in the room and said, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe!” Don’t be afraid.
That’s the first thing to remember when things happen. Don’t be afraid!
Fear paralyzes our potential. We become stuck, we become rigid.
Fear breaks down our relationship with God, our trust in God. When we become fearful, we lose the sense of trust. We may say, “Oh yes, I believe in God.” But there’s a big difference between believing in God and trusting in God.
Doubts about our potential and doubts about God’s presence within us limit our possibilities.
What are you dealing with in your life right now? What situation is present in your life? There is never any situation that is beyond hope. There’s always hope, there’s always possibility, there’s always potential.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That’s a wonderful scripture to use as an affirmation. You may not know where to turn, but as you turn to the Christ within, as you turn to God’s presence, you are strengthened. And that which seemed impossible becomes possible.
Our God is a God who makes the impossible possible. We can come through all things. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – through the presence and power of the living God within me. In any situation you face there is always a God-given solution available to you.
It is important to remind ourselves that even though all seems lost, the unexpected is always possible.
I’d like to share with you three action steps prompted by the Easter story:
1. Surround yourself with Easter-thinking people. Don’t get caught up with people who put you down, and don’t put yourself down. You can rise up over your limitations. Hang around with people who remind you of the potential that is always there. If you have to change your friends, do so, and let your friends be those who support you in your potential for growth.
2. Don’t be afraid; refuse to give up. On the Friday before Easter, the worst scenario happened. Jesus died. The disciples went back to their fishing; they didn’t know what else to do. Then three days later the unexpected happened. Jesus appeared to them. So refuse to give up; it’s always possible. Even death couldn’t stop God’s plan.
3. Rise triumphant. You were created to fly. You were created to soar, to rise up above any limitations, to soar above those situations that would hold you back and down. You were created in the image and likeness of God, you have the possibilities and potentials within you to rise triumphant. What’s keeping you from flying? Let your spirit soar!
God is Blessing You, Right Now!
Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham
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