He Had Risen!

He has risen, indeed!

What this means: the chains that have held mankind captive—no longer exist! 

We were born with a sin nature—“I want my way!” This nature has defined us since Adam. We choose ourselves over everyone and everything else.

We have tried to be good, and there have been moments where we believe we are altruistic. But the chains still rattle, pulling us like gravity back towards the earth, back to ourselves—never reaching a pure and righteous heart. 

It’s who we are.

Because that’s our nature—we want our way. Don’t tell me what to do…

Yet, when Jesus rose from the grave—He literally conquered death’s grip on man’s souls. 

One man’s perfect life, Jesus, was the payment needed to break our chains.

We now no longer need to walk in the shadows with death—hopeless, and defeated.

He has risen, and the chains are broken. We have been set free.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new,” 

2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV.

We can still choose ourselves over God, but now we have an opportunity to live a life of real freedom.

Altruistic freedom. To love without strings attached. To give without needing anything in return. To have peace that surpasses all our understanding. Freedom from shame and the compulsion to sin. Free. 

Free to have a life with God.

Will we live perfect lives? No—because our feet remember what the gravitational pull to sin nature is like, and it lines it. This will be our constant struggle, but victory is so much sweeter than the sin we indulge in will ever be.

Have you experienced God’s freedom? Do you know His grace and offering?

Father,

You are the way, the truth, and the life. Thank You for healing that which we broke.

Thank You for understanding our waywardness.

Thank You for the victory when we surrender.

Thank You for sending us Your Son.

Thank You that You raised Him from the dead.

I surrender all.

Amen.