Till We Are Home

Resurrection Sunday. Our pastor preached a great sermon from 1 Corinthians 15 and shared about the firstfruits of the resurrection. He kicked off the sermon by speaking to the new Creation inaugurated by Christ’s resurrection. As the firstfruits from His resurrection, all that is in Christ is life…no longer the firstfruits of death in Adam, but those who find themselves in Christ will live. So, in Christ’s death on the cross, He put to death the old order of things for those who believe upon Him. The curse of death no longer remains for those in Christ.

And what an amazing truth that is!

As I’ve written, this weekend was a tough weekend in our home. We finished the last of the four hard things we knew we’d face after the death of our youngest. Providentially, we cleaned out her room on Good Friday finding the burden of that last task lifted. Part of our reason was to create a new space for our oldest daughter who used to share that room with Isabel. And though that burden is now lifted, similar to that original Saturday, questions and uncertainty continue to swirl in our ‘Saturday’ as we grieve our little girl.

At times our sorrow and grief can take centerstage a bit more than our joy, but we also know the hope of Resurrection Sunday. I’m thankful for the Lord’s providence in timing this monumental task with Easter weekend for it reminds us not only that we live in a fallen world where hard and sometimes horrific things happen, but that our grief and sorrow will not remain forever – for there is life in Christ.

As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:19, without the resurrection we as Christians would have no hope and should be pitied. Yet the resurrection of Christ did happen and, therefore, we have great hope. And I’m not just talking about a hope that one day my sorrow will go away. Yes, it will (though not in this life), but it will only go away because of the life in Christ I now have…and my Izzy has. 

When Christ died on the cross and cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), the payment for my sin was paid. Nothing further was needed to atone for the sins I’ve committed. No more sacrifices. No penance required on my part. Nothing but the precious blood of Christ can atone for my sin. So, I don’t need to do anything but simply put my trust and faith in Christ that His death paid it all (Mk 1:15, Rom 10:9-10). 

In the resurrection on Sunday, Jesus rose from the grave. As such, He conquered death, proving that what He did on Friday on the cross was acceptable to the Father (Heb 2:14, Rev 1:18, Acts 17:31, Rom 1:4). When Jesus rose from the grave, He became the firstfruits of a new Creation whose very essence is life. And, because Jesus rose from the grave, then those who are in Christ will live and have a resurrection (Jn 14:19, 1 Cor 15:20-23). 

My little girl lives because of Christ.

I will live because of Christ.

You also may have life because of Christ if you repent of your sins and trust that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and submit to His Lordship. 

So, though I live these days in that ‘Saturday’ between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday…some days like the disciples whose sorrow and grief over losing Jesus brought them low and made them wonder what just happened…other days living in the hope that Resurrection Sunday is coming…I can continue to trust in the Lord that He is making all things new…even newly recreated rooms for Izzy’s sister.

Our pastor mentioned this thought of renewal that Christ is working in the Easter sermon. His family and ours share a love for a book series that we read years ago, The Green Ember by S.D. Smith. In that story, the rabbits who seemingly lived in their own ‘Saturday’, looked to a day when the troubles they experienced would be no more. They called out to one another an anthem to remind themselves that one day things will change and this burden they carry would be lifted. That anthem spoke to the rest from their troubles and grief awaiting them.

“It will not be so in the mended wood.”

What a beautiful anthem.  

In this life we face death. We experience the loss of loved ones, losing our children to the firstfruits of Adam. We face cancer, debilitating illness, tears, and the boxing up of things our lost loved ones once possessed. 

It will not be so in the mended wood.

In this life, we live by faith and do not behold our Savior full in His face. Our bodies groan with the weight of sin…we war with the old man. Torment and grief and sorrow are always present. 

It will not be so in the mended wood.

Instead, in the mended wood to come, a great feast awaits us…together with all the loved ones who have gone before us and put their hope in Christ. We will raise a glass to our Savior and enjoy the death of death. We will worship Him as He deserves and forever find joy and light and comfort and home!

That day is coming. Resurrection Sunday is the proof. God is making all things new. Christ is the firstfruits of life. And for all those who live in His name, who are Christians, life awaits. So, in our ‘Saturday’, may we keep our hope in the One who redeems, the One who was resurrected, and find that this light momentary affliction we endure today is nothing compared to the glory that awaits…

Till we are home…