An Easter Message – Glorious Ruins

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15: 55-57

Dear friends,

With Easter upon us, we’re afforded every opportunity in our society to pause, remember and celebrate Easter. We remember, and celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Who He was, what He did and who He is today and what that means to us and to a world in need of the saviour.

I am not sure whether there’s a distinct increase in darkness and death in our time or whether it’s due to a greater ability to view it via television and social media. I suspect it’s both.

However, it’s so important for us to focus on remembering that death is defeated and the victory is won. I say this because we all suffer from spiritual amnesia and need to remember and be reminded so that we are not overwhelmed and defeated in our thinking and daily walk. We remember that the great cosmic battle against the enemy was won at the cross where Jesus became sin for you and me and took the power of death (and sin and shame) to the grave. The sting of death, we read in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, was not that of a bumble bee but more a poisonous sting of a scorpion that held sway over the world before Christ’s saving Grace and free gift of eternal life was made available to all….as the video below reminds us…

This Easter, to all aifc staff, students and friends we pray that you may remember Christ and that you rest in Him and what He has done for you. If you’re weary and burdened this Easter, lean into the one who will restore you. If you’re brimming with life, then be sure to share that with others as a blessing. Remember also that as Christians we don’t have it all together! We are messed up and broken, ‘glorious ruins’ both at the same time. But, we do follow one who does have it all together and it is “by His stripes that we are healed”.

I am reminded of the words of the long since passed English author and poet George McDonald who reminds us that it is life itself that we want more of. The life that Christ came to give – through his own death – in all its fullness to all who would believe.

‘Let us in all the troubles of life remember–that our one lack is life–that what we need is more life–more of the life-making presence in us making us more, and more largely, alive. When most oppressed, when most weary of life, as our unbelief would phrase it, let us bethink ourselves that it is in truth the inroad and presence of death we are weary of. When most inclined to sleep, let us rouse ourselves to live. Of all things let us avoid the false refuge of a weary collapse, a hopeless yielding to things as they are. It is the life in us that is discontented; we need more of what is discontented, not more of the cause of its discontent. Discontent, I repeat, is the life in us that has not enough of itself, is not enough to itself, so calls for more. He has the victory who, in the midst of pain and weakness, cries out, not for death, not for the repose of forgetfulness, but for strength to fight; for more power, more consciousness of being, more God in him;’

 

Nicholas Marks
CEO, aifc