A short reflection on resurrection
Resurrection power, spring, and new life coming from the ground
One of the problems I think evangelical Christians, including my home tradition of Pentecostalism, struggle with is our constant forgetfulness of the reality of the Christ Event.
Take, for instance, the resurrection, an incredibly powerful event that not only symbolizes rebirth but also physically manifests the miraculous reality that God is in the business of raising dead things back to life. So often, I think we forget that this reality is not something we celebrate or remember once a year, but genuinely is the foundation of our faith, an experience and reality that ought to be expressed every moment of every day in the life of the believer.
So often we relegate resurrection to Easter, limiting the vast majority of our thoughtfulness and reflection on new birth to a brief period of time in the spring.
Through the summer months, we forget the resurrection amid the humidity and heat. In the fall, we forget about resurrection as things begin to die and go dormant. In the winter, we’re stuck facing the suffering of cold and dormancy.
Yet today, as I’m out and about walking, I hear the birds coming back to life with their chirping songs. I see new green blades of grass popping through the dirt. I see rain in the forecast signaling the beginning of plant life about to be invigorated through the rains of spring.
Spring reminds us of this rebirth; it reminds us of the power of resurrection. Thus, it’s appropriate that Easter is in the springtime, the season of new life coming out from the dormant harshness of winter.
Look down at the ground and see budding life coming from the dirt. Be reminded today that out of the dirt, Christ arose from the tomb. Out of the earth, he came out alive in power. In the season ahead, may you be encouraged to see that resurrection power is ever so quickly coming before our very eyes.
Lastly, to all of my faithful readers, thank you so much for your support. If you wouldn’t mind covering me in prayer tonight and tomorrow, I am scheduled to speak at a youth retreat this weekend. I have a relatively small number of speaking engagements outside my local church, mostly for other local pastors or close ministry friends. This weekend is one of those, and I would appreciate your prayers as I minister outside of my normal context.
Blessings in Christ, who is risen.