The Morning After…

I may be wrong about this, but I suspect that the morning after the actual Resurrection was nothing like we’ve made it.

Yesterday, churches were packed with people in their “Easter best”. Preachers delivered sermons about the cross, the stone being rolled away, and God’s power. We sang with hands lifted high, celebrating the fact the “He Rose” and “He Lives”. Facebook was inundated with statuses proclaiming, “He is Risen” and exhorting people to praise God for His love and salvation and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Yesterday was all about Him. And then there is…the morning after.

The morning after, we are rushing to catch the after-Easter sales. Suits and dresses are placed in the back closet until the next Easter. We’re off to work, berating anyone who dares to get in the way of our drive, our project, our lunch, our Starbucks order. Today, it’s all about us. We blast who we want, say what we want, and do what we want without so much of a thought to the God we celebrated yesterday. Yesterday. How quickly we forget? How short is our memory?

Today, I am grateful that God is not like us, like me. I am grateful that He did not choose to place us in the “back closet” until next Easter. Grateful that regardless of what we ignore or fail to acknowledge, the reality is still the same. Today, Christ is still risen. Today, He still lives. Today, God is still all powerful and all knowing. He is still loving, and still holy. Today, He is still worthy of our adoration, worship, praise and our lives. May we live TODAY knowing that this song is still true…

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt of life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

'til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

-Lyrics by Stuart Towend, Keith Getty