Easter Dawn

Easter Sunrise

March 31, 2002

John 14:19

“Life Has Meaning Today”

Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. 

There is an emphasis on life on life now and life at Easter. Because He lives life has new meaning for each of us. Because Jesus lives we have the hope and promise of life here and now. Because He lives life is worth living.

I.  Life has meaning

A.   Jesus’ death and resurrection confirm His message.  Jesus said “I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly. His death and resurrection confirm this reality. Jesus proved that He ment business by going to the cross to suffer and die for all of your sins. But He proved that your sins are truly forgiven by coming back to life again on the third day.  It’s one thing to say that you have the keys to forgiveness and life. Jesus proved Himself trustworthy in the bloody cross and at the empty tomb.

B.   His message gives life meaning for us now and into the future. Jesus said: “Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.” We will see Jesus in the future. We will see Him in glory. He gives us life now for this world. He gives us the promise of eternal life in the future where we will live and reign with Him in glory.

C.  Because Jesus is alive we have a future; now and forever.  Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ. He will always remain with us. Never are we alone. Our destiny is secured. We have this glorious hope which can not disappoint us.

II.  Life now makes sense.

A.  Jesus’ resurrection ties us into another world.  The last hymn of our hymnal reads “I’m but a stranger here heaven is my home” How true that statement is. We are connected to a world, which we can not see, a world that we have not yet experienced, a world that is waiting for us to experience.

B.    It is necessary for life to make sense. That is the problem with living in this world now. Sometimes life does not make sense. Bad things happen to good people. Innocent folk suffer. Terror can strike at any moment. We live in an age in which men’s hearts fail them because of fear. Our fears are relieved because Jesus, the author of life is in control of our life. He is the only one who makes sense out of this chaotic world. Life now makes sense because He has promised that we will see Him again in another glorious world, a world that can not end.

III. Life now has ultimate worth.

A.   If in this life only then we are to be pitied…” is how Paul put it. If we are living only for this world we are to be pitied. If we were only to live for this life, why look to the future? Why give up on so much now if this is the only life that we live?  But we have this guarantee that life will not stop when we leave this world. Death for us is not the end. We do not eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Death for us is not the end…it is only the beginning; the beginning of a more glorious life, and life which will not end.

B.   Life has eternal value.  We cherish each day. We live life to the fullest for we make an impact on this life only to live life again in glory with Jesus. Life is limitless. Life is eternal. Life is endless. Life is permanent.

This is our purpose for living; life, real life, abundant life; eternal life. Life with Jesus forever. Now that’s a future we can all look forward to living! A blessed Easter! Amen!