Easter Message

Why seek the living among the dead?

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Lk. 24:1-5

1. The folly of selfish pleasure

What are you seeking in life? All of us are seeking answers to questions such as: what is life about, why am I here, is there life a beyond the grave? Not matter who we are our lives, at some stage, show that we are seeking for reality. But wherever we seek there is no answer. We only find death in those things.

Many seek purpose in wealth, pleasure or other pursuits. But where do they end? They may give temporary fulfillment but in the long run they do not satisfy the depths and longings of the human heart. We brought nothing into the world, and we can certainly take nothing with us when we die; anything we may have gained materially will be of no use to us then.

Others go after pleasures of the flesh drinking alcohol, taking drugs, illicit sexual activities and so on. But where does that end ? The pleasures they may bring, eventually damage and even may destroy the body, in the end the price of these things is very high, and not just to the physical body but to the soul as well; we are all accountable to God, and will have to answer for our lives on that terrible day of judgment.

The truth is all that these things are only temporary pleasures, and are at a high price, in the end they don't really satisfy the deep needs of the human heart. People are seeking the living thing they want among the dead things of life.

2. True life is found in Jesus

God created man to have true life, the life that comes from above, but because we are fallen and are in sin we look for true life elsewhere. Jesus is the one alone who has the true life.

Jesus said:

t is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Jn. 6:63

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Jn. 6:68

Jesus also said:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly

Jn. 10:10

The New Testament makes it plain that true life is only found in Jesus, He came to give us that true life, that is His own life. Anything else is false and death. The question is: do you have this eternal life? What will it profit you if you gain the whole world, become the richest, most famous celebrity, yet at the end of your life be lost and be cast into eternal damnation?

3. Seek Him whilst you can

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jn.3:16

Jesus was God's gift to the whole world, and He came to give us true life. This eternal and abundant life is offered to all those who truly repent and believe on Him. Jesus' resurrection on that, so called, first Easter Sunday proved the truth of what He taught: that He is the only way of salvation, and only by Him can we have the abundant life that God offers.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jn. 14:6

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Jn. 7:37-39

How do you stand before God? Have you received God's gift of salvation? if not you, and anything but whole hearted acceptance is taken as rejection, are under the judgment of God and are in danger of eternal damnation. Repent now and turn to Jesus.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not [= refuseth] is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Jn.3:18

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