Good morning and Happy Resurrection Sunday. The tomb is still empty and He is still alive; and here’s the really good news: Jesus is still offering life to all who are willing to come to Him. (John 5:40; 10:10) (I did not think I would be sharing an ‘Easter-themed’ message today for a couple of reasons, but the Holy Spirit had other plans.)

Because Jesus came out of His tomb 2000 years ago...after being dead for several days, anyone can come out of their tombs as well If...they hear His voice and respond, just like Lazarus did (John 11:43-44; 5:28)

I have a hunch it would prove to be challenging to silence anyone who was brought back to life after being ‘dead’, which might explain why I have continued to share daily here...after what God did in my own life just over five years ago. In other words, every day is ‘Resurrection Sunday’ for me as I continue to abide in Him. As Paul wrote: “In Him we live and move and have our being...” (Acts 17:28). Outside of Him...there is no life, there is no lasting fruit, no joy ...nor can there be any genuine peace. (John 15:4-5)

A ’form of godliness’ tends to draw us to gather around in our churches once a year as we marvel and sing and talk about how that tomb was empty. And if you take a moment, some of you might almost hear the voice of an ‘angel’ asking us the very question that was asked of some women who gathered around an empty tomb on that first miraculous morning: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:1-6)

Does that offend anyone to suggest that a ‘church’ where people are gathering to celebrate an empty tomb might be ‘dead’? That was not my intent to offend, but I will point out what Jesus told that church at Sardis: “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” (Rev. 3:1)

Care to guess what brings ‘death’ to any individual, or even a group of people for that matter? The same thing that always brings ‘death’ – Sin. Sin brings death (James 1:15; Rom. 6:23; 8:13). And when the majority of 'churches' today will nearly boast how they are just a group of flawed, imperfect ‘sinners...’saved by grace’...it is an indictment against the very day they claim to be celebrating. God did not raise Christ from the dead so we could get dressed up extra nice and pull out all the stops to celebrate that feat once a year ...and then continue to practice sin. (Eph. 2:1-3)

On the contrary...through His death, burial, and resurrection...Jesus triumphed over sin and death so that whoever calls upon His name...could do the same thing themselves ... provided they come to Him in faith with their whole heart... ready to surrender and take up their own cross and follow Him. Sadly the message of His resurrection has been hijacked where we make it a day of celebration to convince ourselves that we are no longer punished for our sins...and then we continue to live as sinners thinking ‘we’re covered’.

Friends...the truth of His resurrection was a declaration of truth that we could be FREE of sin and go...and ‘sin no more lest something worse happen to us’ (John 5:14; 8:32,36). That...is the good news we should not only be celebrating and proclaiming...but WALKING in as well! (1 John 2:6; 3:6,9; 5:18; 1 Pet. 4:1-2)

If you are continuing to practice sin...then you remain a ‘slave to sin’...and a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever (John 8:34-35)

“How...shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 6:2...oh just read that whole chapter if you would, please...when you have a few extra minutes)

Please know that I am neither knocking or faulting any group of people who are gathering today and celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. What does concern me though is the belief I have come to be greatly convinced of which is this: Imagine a family living in poverty as they struggle day in and day out to ‘get by’. They ‘do all they know to do’ when it comes to ‘following the rules’; they are frugal, pay their taxes, juggle bills around often sacrificing basic necessities in order to get those bills paid. They are what most everyone would describe as ‘good people’...who sadly, are only one hospital visit or car breakdown away from financial calamity.

But once a year, they get dressed up in their best clothes and drive to their local cemetery that happens to be right behind one of the largest banks in town. They gather to pay respects to deceased grandparents, who upon their death, owned great amounts of wealth which was left as an inheritance to ...this family. Scores of documents and CD’s and bank registries... listing various holdings and accounts remain locked up in the vaults of that very bank whose shadow they now stand in ...as they sing songs of remembrance and share memories of their departed loved ones.

And here is the sad irony of it all...they are clueless to what is at their disposal. They ‘heard words’ long ago about ‘inheritances’ and ‘wills’ and the need to obtain lawyers and ‘come in’ and sign documents and such in order to receive that inheritance, but for one reason or another the reality of what was at their disposal was lost on them. So they continue to live in poverty and struggle. They were convinced in their hearts and minds that this was their ‘lot in life’ and would always have to live in financial bondage...’on this side of heaven’. Somewhere along the way, they were duped into believing a lie.

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Friends...The tomb is indeed...empty today. And scripture tells us that: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5)

Care to guess why? “The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe and are perishing from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God and should shine on them.” (2 Cor. 4:3-4)

We are told in Matt. 27:50-52 that as Jesus ‘cried out and yielded His spirit on the cross...that the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and the earth quaked and the rocks were split...and the graves were opened up...”

Would you...like to see a replay of the ‘veil’ being removed? Do you feel like you’ve been in a spiritual rut far too long?  I read a line in a novel years ago that said a ‘rut is nothing but a grave with both of its ends  knocked out’.  Are you ... ready to have your grave...opened up so you can get out? Turn to Him...with all your heart...and see if that same glorious light does not shine into your darkness so that you too...can be free indeed. (2 Cor. 3:16; John 8:32-36)

He. Has. Risen...!