From Shadow to Light

A stone rolled away changes history and future.

Amidst the festivities, savory smells, cool whip smiles, chocolate kisses, 4 generations gathered under our roof. I pause. A thought draws me to the tomb. To look. To reflect. To see the empty.

For most of my life, as long as I can remember, I have known of Easter. Thankful to grow in His grace, learn from His Word, soak in His love. Yet in all honesty, the cross has held more significance.

Wrapped in religion, unworthiness, a sense of anguish. I would crawl to the cross. Looking up, feeling shame and condemnation for what my sins cost my Lord. Thankfulness tinged with guilt mingled in my heart. Unable to get past my mistakes. Stuck in sorrow. I lived in the shadow of the cross.

Many of us do. We understand what Jesus did nailed to beams of wood. We believe He suffered and died for us. We accept and bring our sins. Yet we never move on. We continue to walk in the same. Ritual of reliving the past. Struggling to break free of the chains that seem to bind us. Hiding in our spiritual lives. Ashamed to be truly seen. Living in the shadow of the cross.

Days pass. Years. In actuality, we only needed 3 days.

Light explodes from the tomb. Shadows dissolve. Think of the indescribable power that hurled a man from the depths of hell, back to breath. A force that conquered every form of evil, death, the grave, and won the ultimate victory. That same power, lives in me.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

Nothing can stand in the way of that kind of power. Chains gone. Sins forgiven and freedom received. Guilt washed away in blood red. Some serious rocks being shaken over here.

No longer living in the shadow of the cross, I have chosen to live in the light of the Resurrection.