Resurrection Realities: Which side of the cross are we living from?

Hallelujah! He is risen indeed! Happy “Easter Monday” to all my Revival Covenant brothers and sisters in Christ…

The progression of Holy Week seems to have a way of recalibrating my faith to the realities of what Jesus Christ walked through to pave the way for us to be set free. As I was reflecting on how to encourage you this week, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper the phrase “resurrection realities.” I sensed both His invitation and admonition for us to STEP IN to all He has for us in this season.  

Life in Christ is marked by the paradox of “already, and not yet.” His work of reconciling man to God through the Cross was finished and final. His exit from the grave 3 days later was evidential proof that death was a lie and victory had been obtained. We are assured of new life in Him through faith, and that we are now seated with Him in the Heavenly Realms. And yet, here we are… still walking through life in a fallen world; still fighting to resist the influences of our flesh and our circumstances. Although we are trusting in His sanctifying grace, we are required to “pick up our cross” every day. Why? Because fellowship in His suffering, sacrifice and death are the only way for us to partner with Him in resurrection LIFE. 

Our entire faith and access to the Kingdom (both in this life and life to come) hinge not only on the death of Jesus Christ, but on the irrefutable fact that He came back to life again. Not just alive but GLORIFIED. The Promise of the Father, His own Holy Spirit, came after Jesus ascended to dwell within us and multiply His resurrection power through our lives as well.

So today, we must ask ourselves: “Which side of the cross are we living from?” Have we received the forgiveness and salvation of Jesus’ death without going on to embody the supernatural, resurrection life He has called us to share?  

Brothers and sisters, Jesus has invited us into a great work... a Holy work... a work that happens here and now, until He returns. The only way for us to be part of this work is by living in His strength, His wisdom and His power. In the light of resurrection realities, let us embrace the exhortation of Hebrews 12:1 today and throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, that we might run the race to win, in Jesus Name.

Jaime Lind
COO, Revive New England