Resurrection Day is not just once a year! Resurrection Day is every day

It is beginning to look very much like spring is upon us!
One of my favorite things is waking up early to the sounds of the birds singing and chirping in the morning. The birds are up early at the first sight of dawn, building nests, finding seeds and flying from tree to tree.
There is no better feeling than starting the day with a purpose. The signs that spring is near also mean that Easter will be here in a few weeks. Passion week will begin soon. I have been a follower of Christ for 30 years now and I have spent 29 of those years preaching the message of redemption, rebirth and purpose through Jesus Christ. There is nothing I would rather do with my life than proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
The truth of Jesus giving his life for us on the cross and three days later he arose from the grave to new life never gets old for me. Jesus models a pattern and a life of incredible purpose. That purpose drives me every day to live my life full of joy, peace and excitement that only Jesus can bring because he saved a stinking sinner like me!
There is a portion of scripture that should drive us every single day! There are a few verses that give us a model and pattern for living life to the fullest in Jesus Christ our Risen Savior! Hebrews 12:1-2 are the verses that I am referring to. The author of Hebrews ends chapter 11 reminding us of all these great people of faith who have gone before us. The scriptures in chapter 11 speak of the great trials that the Lord had brought them through.
Though every story is different, they all are similar in one way; God came through! God is faithful!
Hebrews 12:1-2 says; “Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I love this passage of scripture! First of all, I love it because it speaks of the love, authority and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, I love it because it gives us a clear direction for living a life in the fullness of Jesus Christ, the One True God who is Faithful and True every single day.
Let’s break this down piece by piece: Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses... We are not in this alone. Great men and women of God have gone before us! Those who can testify to the greatness of God.
There are biblical greats and those who have left a huge impact on our lives locally. They all lived lives of faithfulness and their stories and testimonies surround us. These faithful ones confirm the true fact that the Living, Most High God, the Lord Jesus Christ never will leave us or forsake us. God is faithful!
Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely… Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud, and we have seen how God made a way for them, we need to not only get as far away from sin as possible, we need also to stay away from things that hinder us. Some things may not be sin, yet they are not good for the mind, body and soul either.
We need to cast off all things that try to rob us of the joy we have in Christ. For the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Sin clings closely, it destroys. We have all heard the saying; “sin will take you farther than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to stay.” Paul said in Acts 20:23-24 (KJV) that bonds and afflictions are a part of him. He was suffering for Christ yet he said; “But none of these things move me.”
Paul refused to count his life dear to himself. His desires were not as important as what God desired for Paul’s life. In other words, he was less concerned with getting what was his, and more concerned about his life glorifying God.
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… The race set before us is a race of hope. Hebrews 11:1; Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for in the evidence of things not seen.
What are you hoping for? Do not lose hope because you do not see it yet. Just because you can’t see what you are hoping for does not mean it does not exist. God sees it already. Do not lose heart.
We run with endurance, enduring all things. It is our race, it is our cross to bear.
How do we run with endurance the race set before us? This is how… looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. The word perfecter means finisher. It doesn’t mean an ending like there is no more after this. It means completeness and polished without spot, wrinkle or flaw.
We have to keep our eyes on Jesus. In all our ways we must acknowledge him if so, our paths will be straight. Jesus founded our faith. Jesus certainly is a solid foundation.
For the joy set before him, he endured the cross.... This is the part of the verse that really gets me excited! For the joy set before him he endured the cross.
How much does Jesus love you? He died on the cross for you. Yes, he did! He also went to trial for you, was beaten, punched and spit on for you, he wore your crown of thorns for you! (Yes, it should have been my crown and your crown.)
He was whipped across the back with a whip made of sharp glass and bone forty times! He did all of this for you! He carried the cross to the place of his execution for you. He never lashed out, and he never spoke up! However, in doing so… He despised the shame. You can now live a life without shame! There is no more shame on you because Jesus bore your shame!
Here is the best part! Though Jesus died, the grave could not hold him! Jesus came out of the grave! He defeated sin and death and the joy that was set before him was eternal life with you! You are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken!
Jesus is alive! Resurrection Day is not just once a year! Resurrection Day is every day. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. The Holy Spirit is with us!
So how do we receive this incredible promise? Paul wrote in Romans 10:9; Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you shall be saved.
I have learned in my own life that confessing is not a one-time thing. I am living my confession that Jesus is Lord. I believe in my heart. My belief is not an event. I believe God raised Jesus from the dead and I rejoice in His resurrection every single day of my life because the Lord’s resurrection has become my resurrection! Galatians 2:20; I’ve been crucified with Christ and now I no longer live. Not that I live but Christ lives in me.
The life which I now live, I no longer live in the flesh, but live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. May you all have a victorious day and a Happy Easter to you and all of your loved ones. Peace on Earth y’all!
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Dave Truncone is the pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. He is married to Heidi and they have two daughters, Hannah, and Abigail. They live in Van Buren.