The Renaissance in Resurrection

While looking through the networks of friends I have on facebook, I came upon one of my friends status that said "Celebrating Zombie Jesus Weekend". Sometimes as believers in Christ we just need to laugh and I did. It was quite humorous....

A theme that has chased me around for the last few weeks has been perseverance. How do I get through what I am currently facing without succumbing to the pressure? How does my hope/faith in Christ become application in my existence here in on earth? How do I walk on water, without getting my feet wet? I still bust out the Rocky Quote about rainbows and sunshine...

I look to the Cross. I'm reminded today on Easter Sunday that it is very important to know that if Christ was not raised from the dead. All is for not. Christ died to pay the price that mankind could not repay God. The debt was far to large of amount that exceeded the riches of the world. I once heard Tony Campolo talk about the worst person to ever walk on the face of the earth? He asked the audience, some said Hitler, Ferdinand Marcos, Kim II Sung and the list went on. Campolo response to all of those answers were no. His response and answer to his question shocked me. Jesus. At that moment when Christ was crucified at the cross. Jesus was like a sponge that absorbed all evil and took upon himself all of mankind's sin past, present and future sins to satisfy Gods wrath. But on the third day Christ rose again and conquered death and gave way for man to have a relationship with God, a abundant and full life and hope that creates a rebirth, a renaissance in every man, woman and child.

God has opened a door for everyone to come and experience this renaissance (a renewal of life, vigor, interest, etc.; rebirth; revival: a moral renaissance) that comes through the resurrection in Christ. You may be reading this and thinking how improbable this may sound. Or how you have no need for a man hung on a cross. How can so many people be so wrong? How can they continue on, when life seems to never give them any breaks? Why do they keep looking to the cross for hope?

Romans 8:26-39 OUR VICTORY IN CHRIST
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-14
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

My faith and hope in Christ allows me to hope and hope with a purpose. To understand that Christ has empowered me to live a life that is fruitful. A life abundant in what I have and what I have to come. Although life may not always be "rainbows and sunshine" life will continue to move on with or without me. So I place my hope in Christ love that can never be taken from me. I cannot be seperated by the one who is for me. We shouldn't ask how or why? But open our hearts to whats God has said and will do if we trust him. Christ is the image of the invisible God (James1:15). My Renaissance starts now and it starts in Him. Jesus.