I Will Rise

Easter.  It's been a while.  Last year at this time, I was living in Georgia.  I had left Fiji just a few months prior.  Thoughts of whether to move home or go back were surfacing...causing pain and doubt...and making me wonder where on earth I was heading.  How was God working here?  What was the plan?  I wanted a map with my destination circled in bright red marker.  


Today I'm in the same place.   True, my life isn't quite as in-the-air as it was back then.  I'm back in Colorado.  I have a house.  I'm back at my church.  Everything worked out for good.  


But at the same time, things hang in the balance.  From a decision about college to a decision about what to make for lunch, there's so many questions flying at me at once.  It's hard.  It's stressful.  It's beautiful.


It's beautiful.


He makes it beautiful.  My life isn't a random chain of events that tumbles into a story of sorts.  He is weaving a tapestry.  Every thread, every question, every bend in the road is another piece to the puzzle.  


It's beautiful.


More than 2,000 years ago, a man had a picture in his mind.  This man was Jesus.  The picture was of me.  As he hung on a cross shuddering from pain, barely rasping out a breath, he had me on his mind.  I wasn't just an afterthought.  I was the goal.  He was doing this for me. 


It was beautiful.  


Grace entered the world when he conquered death.  It is finished.  I am justified.  I am His.  


How does this apply to the present?  It means that I can trust Jesus.  He is completely worthy of my trust in every area.  College, music, youth group, family, school - it's all in the very palm of his hand.  The hand that took a nail for me. 


It means that he is worthy of sacrifice.  He is worth choosing over anything else.  I am his slave and must give my all for the one who gave everything for me.


It means that I can face tomorrow with my chin up.  This morning at church, the choir sang "Because He Lives" and it speaks perfectly to my life right now: 

"Because he lives I can face tomorrow.

Because he lives all fear is gone,

Because I know he holds the future

And life is worth the living just because he lives."

Life is worth the living...every step, every breath, every moment is worth it for him.  He chose to save me and in doing so, gave my life worth and value.  I can trust him with the future.  My every minute is in his hands.  Through hurt and doubt, he is with me.  Through joy and peace, he is with me.  He is the hope I must cling to.

And in the end, I will go to be with him.  I will see him face to face.  The promise of Easter - life after death - will become a reality.  Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"

I will rise.  Praise you, Jesus.  I will rise.