The empty tomb symbolizes hope in all its glory. Without a doubt, this day in history is His Story. God created the world in perfect order. Man sinned. Restitution was necessary. God provided the perfect sacrifice. Christ died and rose again! Hallelujah. We are redeemed. Thank God!
Resurrection hope extends to our loved ones who love the Lord. This week has been difficult. The father of a dear friend was buried yesterday. A close friend we’ve worked with and admired lost her battle with cancer Easter weekend. The husband of another close friend lingers in ICU after a massive heart attack on Easter morning.
While we sing death where is thy sting and grave where is thy victory, our mortal selves are in tears. While we know our loved ones are safely sheltered in the Father’s care, we feel so very vulnerable right now. Tears flow. Arms are empty. Questions pester. Loneliness hurts worse than physical pain.
Nonetheless, we carry on. Friends rally around. Family arrives from near and far. We start talking about “i” and “me” rather than “we” and “us,” and often slip into and out of plural and into singular, or visa versa. The new reality is too fresh. The new present is not as we wish it to be, in a perfect world, but this is not a perfect world. That’s where our loved ones are, praise God.
And that is the true message of Easter. It needs to go from our heads to our hearts, and soon we will lift our weary earth-bound arms to heaven, seeing that good does come our of suffering, that relationships are to be treasured, and that life is merely a breath away. But because of Easter, eternity is closer than we think.
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