Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
1 Peter 1:3-5
The passage above says that, unlike our earthly possessions, the inheritance we have waiting for us in Heaven will never wear out, rot, break, go out of style, or lose its luster. It will be perfect and perfectly beautiful forever and ever. So the Resurrection changes our future, but it also changes our present.
Jesus’ resurrection frees us up to be humble, loving, generous, just, and forgiving. We don’t have to cling to our current possessions, social status, rights, or any other treasures of this world, because they won’t last forever. But the treasures we have in Heaven – secured by the death and resurrection of Jesus – will. Knowing this sets us free to invest in Heaven by serving, helping, being kind, and putting others before ourselves, just as He did for us. That’s an investment that earns eternal rewards.
Plus, if Jesus has defeated the powers of sin, death, and Satan, what could we possibly fear? If we can trust Him with our eternal life, can’t we also trust Him with everything in our current life? Whether we’re facing addictions, broken relationships, financial problems, our own sin and bad habits, or all the tragedy we see every day in the news, we can have hope. If Jesus has defeated sin and death, then we can have hope that He will ultimately take care of these things too.
We have a mission partner, Bisoke Balikenga, who runs a peace center in the Congo that helps people who are constantly dealing with violence, hunger, and disease. Many of his people have had to flee their homes for safety, and Bisoke’s own family has had one illness after another.
Just last night, Bisoke wrote to me these words:
"Hope is critical to live. Without hope, it is challenging to find meaning and motivation in our life. We make projects and we find the strength to keep moving on despite trials because of hope in something or someone… Our hope is in Christ who is risen from the dead."
You too can have this hope. Because Jesus died and rose again for you. So put your trust in Him!
I stand by my statement that Easter is the best day ever. Jesus died for our sins. But today He is risen. By His death, He destroyed our death, and by His rising again, He gives us eternal life. And that truly changes everything, forever!
So, I conclude with the words of St. John Chrysostom, who said in his Easter sermon:
Christ is risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
For Christ, having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who died.
To Him be the glory and power forever and ever. Alleluia! Amen.
