Gone.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Gone. His best friends for 3 ½ years felt alone, and hopeless. All their dreams and plans were suddenly finished, or so they thought. They didn’t have His presence anymore. They no doubt had questions, but they couldn’t just walk up to Him and ask Him now. They had some regrets, wishing they’d not said some things in His last few days with them, no doubt. Nonetheless, it seems like the world is caving in on them. He’s gone, and all signs point to the fact that the religious leaders are coming for them next.
But, before He died He had made a promise. He had told them that He’d be dead for 3 days, and then He’d rise. We don’t see them talking about that promise now, though. It seems that the darkness of the valley they were now walking in was just too dark for the glorious light of God’s promise to shine through. They were lonely. They were afraid. They were hurting. And it seemed as if they were also doomed.
So a few of them go to the tomb. After all, it’s only right that they anoint His body for burial since the Sabbath is now over. I can imagine it’s probably the longest walk they’ve ever taken. No one said a word. They just walked. They knew where they were going, and the body of their Best Friend was awaiting them. Or was it?
When they got to the tomb, the stone – the massive, several men required to move it, stone – was rolled away. And the tomb? Well, there it sat – empty! The body of Jesus was gone! And the 2 angels that suddenly appeared said it all. “Don’t seek the living among the dead. He is not here, but is risen. Go, tell the others.” Then they ran – no doubt as hard and as fast as ever in their life they ran. The joy – pure joy – they felt must have been palpable. Gone – He’s gone! That means He’s alive! Every promise He ever made – He kept!
Today, the tomb is still empty. He’s alive. But I wonder if you’ve ever done as I have in times past and tried to put a few things back in that tomb. I’m talking about the past. You know, the stuff that’s gone? The mistakes you made – the mistakes others made – they’re gone. History. And all that’s left is life. And the life that’s left is full of Him. And all the promises He’s made to us He’ll keep. He’s never broken one yet, and He’s not starting now.
So take your past – the hurts, the failures, the bitterness, the loss – and roll the stone of that tomb away. Let it go. Give it to Him. And ask the One who conquered death, hell, and the grave to conquer your memories and past mistakes. He’ll raise you up from that swamp of regret and place your feet firmly on the Rock that is His Spirit. So, at the end of the day, you can look into that tomb of the past and say boldly, “Gone!”


That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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