When we think or talk of an empty tomb the first consideration may be a Cenotaph, which is an empty tomb used to remember and honour soldiers who laid down their lives during civil, local, regional or global wars, in order that the rest of us might have or enjoy relative peace. Thus we set dates in different countries as ‘Remembrance Day’. Flower wreaths or special poppy wreaths are laid by dignitaries and special representatives on such appointed days. Peoples gather at cenotaph, squares or places of worship to celebrate our fallen heroes of wars. However, there is a more representative and truly empty tomb. Peasants, nobles, kings and queens have their bodies placed in coffins and buried inside tombs of varying qualities and costs. After months and years, these bodies usually decompose, leaving only bones, which are much resistant and slower to decay. Even in cases of strong preservative traditions such as in ancient Egypt, the bodies so preserved are of little or no value, as far as life is concerned.In the whole of human history, there is only one tomb that is truly empty. It is the tomb of Jesus, located in Jerusalem. The tomb inside which Jesus was buried, after he died on the cross, is empty because he rose from the dead on the third day, over 2000 years ago and has been alive ever since! The fact that Jesus arose from the grave is proof that the work of salvation that he carried out was and is forever successful! HALLELUYAH! King David of Israel said about Christ, centuries before Christ came:‘For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption’. Psalms 16.10 That was prophetic and it was literally fulfilled. Several other prophecies concerning his birth, his escape to Egypt, his ministry, his betrayal,his death, the borrowed tomb, his resurrection, his ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit have all been fulfilled. Jesus Christ is very unique in so many ways. He is very simple, very humble, very loving,very obedient to God, very powerful,true and honest, and very faithful. Not one word of his has ever failed. Jesus Christ is the Way. He is the Truth, the Life, the Door, the trustworthy Friend, more reliable than a brother, sister, father or mother. He is the wisest Counsellor, the most reliable Mentor. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the Ultimate and most desirable Personality. In fact, he is the fairest of ten thousands and totally dependable and all-sufficient. William Shakespeare said: Some are born great,some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. ALL THREE are true of Jesus Christ! By virtue of his source and union with his Father, the ALMIGHTY GOD, Jesus Christ was and is great.Therefore he was born great. Because of his obedience unto death, Jesus Christ achieved greatness in the salvation he made possible to all mankind. As a result of his humility, Jesus Christ had greatness thrust upon him. For so humbling himself to the lowest possible depth, GOD decided to elevate him to the highest position and gave him the most powerful, most honoured, and most feared name in the three existing domains; namely Heaven, Earth and hell! It is written: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father Philippians 2.9-11 After his resurrection and appearances over a period of 40 days at different places to well over 500 persons, Jesus Christ ascended to heaven. There, as part of the promotion given to him, he sits at the right hand of the throne of God, awaiting the subduing of all oppositions. ”Till his enemies are made to become his footstool”. There is no power in any other name.Salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ. Whosoever shall call upon the name of Jesus Christ shall be saved. This same Jesus is coming back again; that has also been prophesied, even before Christ was born. The ball is now in the court of each and every person. Each person is faced with the choice to decide to call upon Jesus and subsequently begin to follow him. It is written: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved Acts 4.12. You believe with your heart and confess with your mouth. You believe the truth and confess the truth that you believe. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ shall not be ashamed. Do you? Use the powerful name of Jesus in prayer now. Call upon him. God did not send his Son, Jesus into the world to condemn it, but to save the world through Jesus Christ.Pray in your own words or native language or in the most convenient form that deals with the particular state of your mind and life. For example you may pray in this manner :Almighty God, I thank you that you gave your Son Jesus to the world, including me. I believe that Jesus died on the cross in order to save me from sin. I call upon you Jesus Christ to come into my life now.I believe that you died and rose up from the grave on the third day. I thank you that you have forgiven me all my sin. I surrender my life to you and ask you to help me as I begin to follow you today, even now. Amen. Did you pray? God actually listened to you and your prayer has been answered. Anyone who receives Jesus Christ into his or her life has been given the power to become a child of God by Jesus. God bless you. Get a Bible and start reading from the Gospel of St John. Look for a good Church nearest to you and begin to fellowship and worship God with them there. Please, get in touch with us here at AgapeFocus. You may also get in touch with the person who sent this message to you. May the power of the Most High God uphold you to the end. Grace be with you.
24 Apr
AgapeFocus 