The Tomb Was Empty
It’s been a while since I have written a devotional. During this hiatus, my time with the Lord has been spent in the Word, reading, praying – seeking His wisdom. I have had good days and bad days, health challenges; moved twice and have a full plate of daily mundane activity. To paraphrase Chuck Swindoll, it is the days of maintenance that are the longest. I placed numerous devotionals on Facebook, but I found myself getting distracted but more importantly I was diluting the focus on my witness to the Lord. I felt it was all about me and I found myself on somewhat of a roller coaster. So, today I am starting a blog to share the Good News and Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am naming the site “Grace Plus Nothing.” Following is my first entry.
During this Lenten season, I came across a book that I just finished – 40 days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole borrowing the quote from John the Baptist for the book’s title. “He must increase and I must decrease.” John 3:30.
On a beautiful Palm Sunday morning, as I read before going to Church – Chole focused on the resurrection – the empty tomb. Oddly enough, it seems to me that even though the resurrection is what sets Christianity apart from other religions, the focus of Christ followers seems to be on the cross. For example, how many necklaces do you see of a tomb with the stone rolled away.
Indeed, all the gospels point to Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. They reach a crescendo as He makes His way to Golgotha – the final hours crucified on a cross for our sins – to really bring it home He is a personal Savior – your sins and my sins. But what about the empty tomb?
There is something we miss, that Chole brilliantly points out about the empty tomb. Jesus dies sacrificially, paying the penalty for sinful humanity, yes. The empty tomb signifies not only that He has risen, but our transgressions are not only forgiven, they are forgotten. They are no more. The tomb was empty.
As someone who deals daily with shame and guilt, not just from a long time ago, but from yesterday and today – this is a very liberating perspective. I really am convinced that all of my life, the enemy has used shame to keep me discouraged. I believe in the Lord with my heart, mind and soul, but I struggle that I am forgiven. Curt Thomson, MD has written a book titled The Soul of Shame, and he makes a bold statement that shame is the number one thing that the enemy uses to corrupt our relationship with God and each other.
The tomb is empty. Our sins are no more. God forgives and forgets them. When the accuser comes to Jesus and points out how fallen and broken, we are with a list of our shortcomings, Jesus simply replies, I have no memory of those transgressions.
Our salvation is in Jesus, and by His death and resurrection we have eternal life. Whatever turmoil or tribulation you experience today, let it go, and trust Him. Don’t magnify it with guilt and shame – you are forgiven, and your sins are forgotten.
Grace Plus Nothing 