Posted by
jgrantswankjr on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 10:23:39 AM
 |
|
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
". . .power. . .by the resurrection from the dead. . ." Romans l:4
Paul combines empty tomb power with spiritual victorious living as he greets the Roman community.
It
is the death on the cross that continues its weaving into the
resurrection power. One can only arrive in the might of Christ's
resurrection by first knowing the cross commitment.
Many
want the resurrection glory but will not pay the price of the
crucifixion. This is cheap religion at its most repulsive display.
However,
since the world is spiritually fallen, its composition is first pain
and then pleasure. There can be no divine pleasure without first
experiencing the cross pain. It is come upon because of the betrayal
handed Creator God by Adam and Eve. Eden has seen to that.
All
the more then the disciple praises heaven's throne for the chronology
provided. It is the cross, then the resurrection. It is resurrection
only when one first goes under the timber. One cannot have the one
without the other; one cannot experience the relief of the one without
first undergoing the trial of the other. There is an order in all
divine matters.
However,
being on this side of the risen Christ, we know that each trial has its
own resurrection glow. We look back to the Calvary event followed by
the First Day radiance to know that our Savior is zenith power. He is
overcoming victory. He is the ultimate statement.
So it is
with each dedicated biography. The last segment of each consecration is
written by the One who stood in the garden to welcome Mary. Then the
last word of the eventual finality is penned by the same winning Amen.
Even now when going through the cross suffering, one believes in the depths that the power
is at work.
At Calvary, the power was at work; it appeared as if there were no divine weight to that Friday afternoon.
However, heaven was indeed prodding about the cross base, seeing
through the burial detail, taking note of the Roman seal, watching over
the young Man's corpse laid upon the stone.
God's power is
always at work in the most minute detail of each surrendered cross. The
world looking on calls you failure. Often weak-willed disciples looking
on say the same, even with sincere sympathy, but nevertheless, in that
humanness they reveal their lack of faith. Only the truly cross
experienced have traveled far enough up the mount to know for sure that
there is no cross without the divine power at work in everything.
Believe
even this moment that what you are wrestling with is impregnated with
divine might. It may seem just the opposite. That is fine; do not look
to the outward appearance. Illusions abound. Temporary is tempting even
the best of us to conclude that it is permanent.
Keep
faith eyes upon the scene and you will eventually witness the
resurrection power. It must be so for it is a primary postulate of
deity. He has lived it. He has woven it into His scheming for good. He
has proven this holy character repeatedly in all surrendered cross
lives.
|
|
|
|
|