Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!

1 Peter 1: 3, 4 (The Message)

     He was all alone.

There were people all around Him—lining the streets as He slowly dragged the cross toward the hill at Calvary—but He really was all alone.

There were some who were watching this spectacle who were supportive of Him, who followed Him—some women actually—but most of those you would have thought He could count on at a time like this—His disciples for instance—had taken off for the woods when the temperature got turned up too high.

And so, He was all alone—all the way along the route to the Cross, when He was nailed to the Cross, and as He was lying lifeless in the Tomb.

All alone.

We know the feeling, don’t we, of being all alone. I know the feeling. We’ve all been there—at any age, and every age of life. Too many times we have found ourselves facing something we hadn’t planned on, and couldn’t get beyond, hoping a ray of wisdom would fall from above. Maybe even from somewhere nearby. Instead the clouds continued to gather gray, the sky darkened and the lights continued to go dim.

Too many times, we have found ourselves sitting all alone, walking by ourselves through life, not sure which way to turn for help, not knowing who you can trust to share with, let alone who could possibly help. Too many times we’ve looked down a long, dark and winding road stretching out before us, uncertain of where it would lead, gripped with fear, but knowing we had to go.

All alone.

And then the stone was rolled away, and those there on that Easter morning saw that the tomb was empty! He was risen! As He went through His years of ministry and that last week all the way to the empty tomb, we see now that Jesus Christ was never alone. God, His Father, was always with Him, all the while and all the way.

And that message is the same for us today, as those who were there that first Easter morning learned—we are also not alone. In the midst of all the stuff of life that overwhelms us at times—we are not alone. And with that we have all the power we need to press on, to punch our heads through the gathering clouds—knowing that the risen Lord will provide a way for us and with us, into the sunshine of a brand new day.

He is risen! It’s a brand new day. For you and for me. And in that we are never alone.

That’s the message of Easter, which millions around the world gathered to celebrate again yesterday. A new day. A fresh start. A risen Lord. But Easter is not about millions, or thousands, or hundreds gathering to celebrate and worship.

Easter is about Christ—the risen Christ—connecting with that one person in need. And in that moment that person finds renewed hope for a new day. Easter is about Christ—the risen Christ—connecting with that one person struggling to take just one more step. And in that they find a new beginning, and strength and direction for the way.

We’ve all been there. Feeling all alone, with a sense of hopelessness circling around and around our heads preparing for its final descent. But the message of Easter is that today, and every day, and all the way to the end of our lives and into eternity—Hope reigns. Hopelessness has been forever defeated. Christ lives, and so do we.

We are not alone—Christ is risen. We are never alone.

Feeling like you are all alone? Look again—it’s not so. Do yourself a favor and never believe that lie again.

The tomb is empty! Christ is risen! Christ is alive! Christ is here, for you and for me.

That’s the message of Easter. That’s the message of the risen Christ, for today, tomorrow and forever.

We are not alone! We are never alone!

Christ is risen!

In His Name—Scott

 

Copyright 2014. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.