Raised to New Life

My husband and I bought a house that had sat vacant for a few years before we moved in. The condition of the inside of the house was great; however, the lot that it sat on was a different story. Not only was it filled with years of overgrown weeds and unraked leaves, but it was also covered in garbage—actual garbage. We found shingles, broken pottery, bricks, even a picnic table! All kinds of crazy things were buried in our new backyard.

It took a lot of work and a lot of help from family and friends, but we finally cleared out all the garbage to reveal what was really buried in the backyard. Once everything was cleared out, a beautiful garden was able to bloom. Underneath the weight of the junk, seeds were dying and falling to the soil, so that one day they could be reborn into something beautiful, much more beautiful than what we could have imagined.

Now every spring, right around Easter, my garden always blooms, reminding me of the beauty of Christ’s death and resurrection. There on the cross, under the weight of our sins, under the weight of the sins of the world, Christ died so that we could live.

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

As a seed dies to give life to a beautiful flower, not only did Christ’s death lead to His resurrection on the third day, but it led to our resurrection as well. Paul reminds us:

Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

Thank You, Lord, that we are raised to new life with You! He has defeated sin and conquered death! He turned His grave into a beautiful garden of new life for us.

As Jesus encouraged His disciples:

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” Luke 11:33

Just as my garden is a reminder to me of the Lord’s faithfulness, I pray this Easter that we would be that same reminder to a world in need of His Hope. I pray that the new life that we have found in Christ through His resurrection would be evident in us, His children, His church.

Lord Jesus, we rejoice today and every day in Your victory over sin and death. In Your victory, we are victorious! We are so thankful for the new life we have in Your resurrection. Empower us to walk in this victory daily, as a testimony to the world that through Your love our debts are paid, and our new life has begun.

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Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION^®, NIV^® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.