There was a time when our Nagas worshipped nature and the spirits. Today we are predominantly Christian. Looking at our society and the world as a whole, it is very easy to be pessimistic when we see poverty, corruption, violence and blatant crimes performed with no consequences or justice. The mockery of our own identity as people and believers needs to be challenged by consistently and progressively living for change. We see divisions among tribe, clan and even Christian denominations like Baptists, Catholics etc. with varied thoughts on practices, ceremony and religious rules. However, this week, as the Easter weekend draws near, we would like to remind our readers that even through pain, suffering and the death of Jesus Christ, God can still give life and bless us with hope through difficult times. We are Christians because we believe in the “resurrection” and when God can conquer death than we must have “hope” and work towards creating our utopian Christian society.
a blessed Easter weekend
Resurrection: Our Blessed Hope
Forgiveness of Past Sins (Matt. 28:10): “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there”. By “brothers” Jesus probably meant his disciples. This shows that He had forgiven them, even after they had denied and deserted him in His greatest hour of need. As we think about the resurrection in relation to our sins, we must recognize that, only because of the resurrection of Jesus we can have forgiveness for our past sins.
Power for Present Living (Matt. 28:20): The resurrection of Jesus not only guarantees forgiveness for past sins, it also guarantees power for present daily living. Because Jesus is a living savior, He empowers us to live each day for Him. As Jesus said, “I am with you always…” (Matt. 28:20). The resurrection of Jesus is a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a belief of the Christian faith. It tells the world that the kingdom of God is ruled by a living Sovereign. Unlike all other religion, Christianity alone possesses a founder who transcends death and who promises that His followers will do the same. As Christians, we take comfort in the fact that our God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him. But the founder of Christianity – 60 years after his death appeared to John on the island of Patmos and said, “I am the first and the last and the living one; and I was dead and behold, I am alive for evermore.” Revelation 1:17-18).
Hope for Future Destiny (Matt. 28:20): – It is a magnificent promise that the power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead will one day raise believers back to life. 1st Corinthians 6:14 says, “By His power God raised Jesus from the dead, and He will raise us also.” Jesus told his disciples in John 14:1-2 just before he was crucified: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 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”. Right now Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for every single believer, who trusts in Him with a real living faith. One day, those of us who wholeheartedly believe in Jesus will go to Him and live with Him in heaven for all eternity. At one point of time, the Apostle Peter lost all his hopes because he had failed Christ miserably by denying him three times, the night of Jesus’ arrest. But still he was able to write about hope because Jesus’ resurrection changed everything and gave him a new hope and life. Thus, with confidence, he gives us three solid reasons to rejoice and have hope in 1st Peter 1:3-7: “Rejoice! Your Past can be forgiven; Rejoice! Your Present can be handled; and Rejoice! Your Future can be secured.”
Sir. Daniel Khan, its really an inspiring read. Now, I know Who or What I'm. Keep it up…and God bless you.