“HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO LIVE? MOST IF ASKED WOULD SAY, ‘AS LONG AS I’M HEALTHY AND HAVE MY WITS, I’D LIKE TO LIVE FOREVER!’”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment for this Easter Weekend, we’ll talk about God’s promise to all men of living forever in a state of health and perfection …

…Now today is a very special day for the Christian faith, for it represents the most wonderful and dynamic moment of Christian history - the resurrection day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, the Easter season is a wonderful time for every true believer in Jesus Christ, as we take special time to remember the Lord's fantastic promise and fulfillment of providing for sinners to live forever! In fact, everything in the Christian faith revolves around this fulcrum event known as the resurrection. Accordingly, I want to devote today's thoughts to this wonderful theme and truth. But first let’s listen to this wonderful music of praise for a lovely Easter Sunday. Stay tuned…

… As we remember Easter, the resurrection event of the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to remember the importance of it. You see not only is the atoning death of Christ important, not only is the shedding of His blood as a sacrifice for our sins important, but all of these magnificent truths are in effectually meaningless to us, without the Lord's resurrection unto life. Why? Because Christ’s resurrection proves and fully declares He is the infinite God-Man (Rom. 1:4); that the work of salvation is completely finished and accepted by the Father (Rom 4:25 ), and that death itself has forever been conquered (1 Thess. 4:13 -18); Rev. 1:17-18).

Indeed, the doctrine of the Resurrection unto life is the fulcrum of the Christian faith! But based on this magnificent fact is perhaps the most sublime truth of all that affects every facet of a Christian's walk of faith - the fact is God the Son, Jesus Christ lives and is alive forevermore. Hallelujah!

Perhaps the most dramatic text in the New Testament that reflects the resurrection event is found in Matt. 28:1-7 where we read,

Mat 28:1-7 (NIV) "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee . There you will see him.' Now I have told you.""

For those in the first Century who followed the Messiah, all the events of the past few days were the heaviest and darkest days they ever faced. All their hopes, dreams and aspirations were nailed to a cross where their leader, Jesus Christ, the one whom they trusted in, fully suffered and died there. Although Jesus Christ was crucified by human hands, little did the world of men and fallen angels know they were carrying out God's great Eternal plan and purpose to bring Him to death. Yes, it was God's foreordained plan to give His perfect and sinless Son, as a sacrificial atonement for the sins of the whole world. Yet on the first day of the week, God again spoke, and raised the man Christ Jesus from the dead. Yes, thank God, Jesus Christ rose alive from the dead and still lives, and that He walks, talks and communes with His own followers till this very day. However, friend that is the subject of my message of hope for you this Easter Sunday. Have you really thought on this --- 

Jesus still lives!



But the question we want to answer is - where does He live today? As I read my Bible, I find the very first and foremost place Jesus still lives…

(1) IN A LITERAL PLACE CALLED HEAVEN.

We are told of this in Scripture that the Lord Jesus ascended up alive into a place called Heaven,

Acts 1:11 (NIV) ""Men of Galilee ," the [angels] said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.""

Moreover, Jesus Himself said to His disciples before the Crucifixion event,

John 14:1-3 (NIV) ""Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

Furthermore, the writers of the New Testament speak of this place where Jesus lives. For Paul the apostle said,

2 Cor 5:1 (NIV) "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."

Rom 14:9 (NIV) "For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living."

And if that is not enough, Luke the writer of the New Testament book of Acts declared by the power of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 2:33 (NIV) "Exalted to the right hand of God, he [Christ] has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."

And, the writer of Hebrews confidently declared,

Heb 1:3 (NIV) "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."

Heb 2:9 (NIV) "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor…"

Yes, without doubt, the Lord Jesus rose from the dead, and continues to live in the eternal presence of His Father in Heaven ruling on the throne of the Universe. It is because of this total authority that Jesus Christ has (Mat 28:18), that every Christian can have full confidence that our lives as Christians, are carefully planned to live forever with Him. Although the Christian life, on earth, is no guarantee of a life of ease and tranquility, Christ lives in and through His people and gives us the power to live joyously and triumphantly, for Jesus confidently declared,

John 11:25-26 (NIV) "… I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?""

John 16:33 (NIV) ""I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.""

Indeed, Jesus Christ is alive and living forever in Heaven. There, He is overseeing the world, watching over His own, and working all things together for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28 ). That, friends, is one of the most comforting truths the remembrance of Easter can bring to us. But then there is a second place Jesus still lives.

We find

(2) CHRIST LIVES TRIUMPHANTLY WITHIN THOSE WHO BEAR THEIR "CROSS" IN THIS LIFE.

Now many people think the "cross bearing," of Christians is often experienced by those who suffer health problems, or have troubled and difficult life situations. However, that is not the cross bearing the Bible speaks about. Jesus clearly told His disciples,

Mat 10:38 (NIV) "…anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

Luke 14:27 (NIV) "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

This “cross” Christians are called in life to bear, is far different from the sufferings we experience simply because of life and sinful situations. It refers specifically to the times in life whereby we directly suffer for the cause of Christ's sake; whereby, we have endured pain, suffering and loss because we have stood openly for Jesus.

Perhaps the greatest example of Christ's triumphant presence with a believer in such a time as this, is the story of one of the churches early witnesses. A man named Stephen. We are told he boldly proclaimed the Gospel of the resurrection of Christ to his fellow religious leaders. By so doing, he incurred their wrath and hatred which led to their stoning him to death. Listen to this account and the fact of Christ's special triumphant presence.

Acts 6:8-10 (NIV) "Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen… These men began to argue with Stephen, 10 but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke."

Acts 7:54-58 (NIV) "When they heard [him], they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him…"

Yes let us remember, Easter is a promise to all believers that if we stand for Christ, if we bear "our cross" in proclaiming the Gospel in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, although we shall suffer for it, Jesus who lives forever stands with us! What comfort that is to know He will never leave us nor forsake His own! Yes, Christ still lives triumphantly, with all those who bear their cross of witness, in this life for Jesus sake. But lastly, the joy and “Good News” for us this Easter is that because Jesus still lives and rules the universe, His promises to all His children of faith, will indeed also come true. This brings us to the third great truth, the greatest promise of all – Easter and the resurrection event reminds us…  

(3) Jesus is Coming Again (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11 ).

Yes, the greatest promise by far was the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This already proven miracle of miracles is the forerunner of His ultimate promise to come again and receive those who are His own. I don't know about you, but I'm not looking for the undertaker, rather the upward taker, the Lord Jesus Christ of whom it is said,

1 Th 4:13-18 (NIV) "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant …14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words."

Every day that passes we are one day closer to the Lord's promised return. And, while we wait for His promised coming, our Lord Jesus has said, He will be with us (Mat. 28:20); With us through the grand and glorious days; and, with us through the valleys of the shadow of death. The psalmist declared,

Psalm 23:4 (NIV) 4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me…"

How wonderful it is that the Bible tells us, we don't stop in the valley, nor we are left alone there. Rather, God says we will "walk through" all those valleys of darkness and death for the Lord takes us through by His power and presence. What a comfort and joy it is know Jesus still lives, and He will always be there for you and me. He will always bring us through and out into the sunlight of His love. And, best of all, He will surely come again to receive every believer unto Himself, that where He is we may be also (John 14:1-3).

As Easter is the wonderful celebration event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Take heart and dwell upon the fact that Jesus still lives and LIVES FOREVER!

But say, you know that all this is meaningless if Jesus is not living for you. Is this great resurrected and living Christ, your Savior? Do you know for sure that if you were to die today, that you would immediately go into the presence of the Lord Jesus to be with Him for all eternity? If not, let this moment be the hour of your decision, the fork in the roadway of your destiny. On this Easter weekend, right now, pause from whatever you are doing and give your heart to Jesus. Yes, through a quiet repentant prayer, invite Jesus Christ, right now into your life, and then be assured of His forever presence in your heart and soul. Wherefore, like Job of old you will then be able to declare,

Job 19:25-27 (NIV) "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Indeed, “Hallelujah, all Heaven shouts!”, and the Lord's people say, "Amen." Therefore, this Easter Sunday, remember the power and promises of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that fantastic hope and truth - Jesus still lives and you can LIVE FOREVER TOO!