Standing at the graves of loved ones always brings many emotions.
How I miss my parents and grandparents as I read their names on the bronze plaques. My friend who was killed in Vietnam, now almost a half century ago. My baby daughter, Kendra, who died 16 years ago at the age of 21.
If there was only the grave how hopeless this world would be. But we come up to this season where we are reminded that there is hope. Two thousand years ago the son of God willingly went to the cross. He stretched His arms out and shed His blood for our sins. They put His body in a borrowed tomb, but you can’t keep a good man down! In John 11, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” We will all die physically but we can be reborn spiritually through Jesus: the way, the truth and the life. The Easter story gives us light in spite of the darkness of this world. When we buried Kendra at Oakwood Cemetery, I looked down into that grave and wanted to ask sexton Hal Heagy to just put me in the hole with her. In my mind what I saw seemed hopeless. But in my heart the Holy Spirit spoke to me about the blessing of the Resurrection!
Josh McDowell once said, “No matter how devastating our struggles, disappointments, and troubles are, they are only temporary. No matter what happens to you, no matter the depth of tragedy or pain you face, no matter how death stalks you and your loved ones, the Resurrection promises you a future of immeasurable good.”
Whatever you are going through may this coming Resurrection Day be a time for you to celebrate a Risen Savior!
Ken Locke is community ministries director of The Salvation Army in Warsaw and director of the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association. Have ideas for this column? Go to www.gwma.info.