A Grave Error

[Raven]

What a wondrous and most miraculous day to remember. The dawning of a new day both physically and spiritually. The Resurrection and all that it means to mankind is something to remember and rejoice about. Thank God for the resurrection and the hope that now springs alive in our hearts of a new and better day that is coming. Yet with all of this there is a grave error at the grave of Christ and it begins with Mary. Early, that eventful morning, Mary finds herself looking into an empty tomb. Her first thoughts are that someone had stolen the body of her Lord and she began to weep. Hearing steps behind her she looks through tear blind eyes and sees who she thinks is the gardner. It was actually Jesus but she could not discern that because of her grief over his missing body. She tells the gardner that if he knows where the body has been taken she will go to it and take care of its burial. Jesus then says, Mary! When he spoke her name she turns once again and now recognizes him and cries out, "Rabboni!"

This grave error is still being repeated today by those who persist in looking to their past and dwelling there. Yearning for the days long gone when things were less complicated and God seemed to be closer. Revivals of long ago, campmeetings of times past, great preachers of yesteryear. You would think that in long gone days the church was filled with power, overflowing with miracles, brimming with revelation, and had fulness of understanding. I'm here to tell you that it was not so! Not any more than you were the fastest runner in your school. Someone said, "The older I get the faster I was!" Every generation has had its shortcomings. To think that the elders of bygone generations had more power and more revelation than we do today is to contradict the word of God. For "the path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." [Proverbs 4:18]

Why does man insist on looking in the wrong direction? Observe John when being in the spirit on the Lord's day, he had to turn to a voice that was behind him. [Revelation 1:10] Being in the spirit is not enough! You must be discerning as to the direction you should be looking and it certainly is not behind you.
Remembering an empty tomb is a comforting vision but turning around and embracing my Lord today is a dynamic reality! I encourage all who may chance upon these faltering words of mine to look to the future and seek a revelation of a living Christ who is leading us, in ever increasing light!

Rev 1:12-18
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Raven