Over this past "Easter" Sunday, as I contemplated the implications of the resurrection, I was reminded of the primacy of this event for Christians and for the world. Everything changed on that blessed morning when Christ rose. All things were reversed and the path to righting the ills of sin - in mankind (Romans 8:1) and in all creation (Romans 8:18ff) - was set in motion. In fact, even the joy of Christmas is directly rooted in the resurrection of Christ. Christ birth is meaningfully powerful because Christ's death and subsequent resurrection validated His life (Romans 1:4). In this moment of reflection something struck me that changed my thinking about how I see time - the rest of my time at least - on earth.
Resurrection Sunday is the ultimate reset because the resurrection made my (our) reset with the Lord possible. Think about it this way, Resurrection Sunday tells us that sin, death, doubt, dejection, defeat, and a destructive destiny have all been swallowed up because Jesus "broke the grave" and defeated sin! Nothing says "a new day" or "a new beginning" like Resurrection Sunday. Nothing reminds us that our past is dead like Resurrection Sunday, and nothing provides us with the hope of being made progressively like Christ like Resurrection Sunday. With this thought, I decided on Good Friday, April 15th, 2022, that I would change my personal New Year to commence on Resurrection Sunday instead of January 1st.
The distinct reality that made Paul the incredible follower of Christ was his understanding that salvation is to be seen as a life resurrected, one lifted from the dominion of sin (Romans 6). It is not to be seen as a new moral existence as if morality, itself, were the goal. No, Paul wanted Christ to be seen in and through him which only happens when Paul lived in the existence where Christ reigned - in the heavenly places. This truly is where our life is at the moment we believe and trust Christ and, therefore, it must be the life that we always seek (Colossians 3:1-4). Therefore, Paul says in Philippians 3:
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I
may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from
the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends
on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the
resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:9-11).
Paul's passion was to be found in Christ. He wanted to be where Christ was, at all times, meaning that he desired his life to always imitate Christ’s life.
How was this to be accomplished?
The latter part of verse 10 tells us the answer: "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection." There it is! That's the calling of the Christian at every point of life and reality: to pursue a growing intimacy with Christ so that we might reflect the reality, as well as become, a powerful demonstration (example) of the resurrection of Christ in our daily living.
Seeing Resurrection Sunday as my personal New Year centers my evaluation of my life, not on whether I have achieved or accomplished goals as if this were the most important thing for me. Instead, in a gospel-centered way, I will evaluate whether or not I have lived a resurrection existence and, as such, whether I have used my time, cared for my body, valued relationships, pursued my calling and profession et., as one who lives, operates, and evaluates all things on the basis of the resurrection.
At the turn of the New Year, we typically want to forget the previous year's struggles, challenges, pains and or losses we experienced. In many ways this is understandable since none of these are easy to bear. Yet, in the context of resurrection Sunday, I am convinced that I am called to see all of this differently. As a follower of the resurrected Christ, I need not forget my challenges (sufferings, pain etc.). Instead, I should ask how or if each has caused me to love Christ more, be joyful in suffering and, ultimately, see my life as a Cross-calling - one to be lived as actively taking up the cross(es) not forgetting it (them).
When we reflect on Paul's words in Philippians 3, we see that not only did Paul want to experience the power of the resurrection in his daily life but, because this was his passion and desire, he saw suffering differently. It was not something to be regretted or forgotten. Paul said, "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10). Paul understood that, on this side of eternity, resurrected living necessitated the cross. In fact, I do not truly imitate the exalted reality of Christ's heavenly life until they pursue the humiliated reality of Christ's earthly life in my life.
Resurrected living is, truly, the only life that a Christian can have. Anything short of that fails to honor Christ and demonstrates, perhaps, that we are still wearing spiritual grave clothes - trapped in sin (John 8:31-47). Yet, God has more for us. Not more in the sense of prosperity teaching such as money, fame, houses etc., but more in terms of intimacy with Him and being used by Him for glorious purposes beyond our human capability. If you desire these things begin looking at every aspect of your life and ask this question:
"Does that reflect resurrection existence?
If the answer is yes, praise God for His grace, leave it behind (Philippians 3:7), and pursue Him to bear more fruit (John 15:3). If the answer is no, praise God for His mercy (Jeremiah 3:22-23), leave the failure behind (Luke 15:11-32; Romans 7:24-25), and fight to be nearer to Him for fruitfulness (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Embracing our suffering and enjoying watching God delivery us.