It is common for us to look for Christ only on the cross, but we forget that He is alive and has conquered death for our salvation. We often search for Him in places where He is no longer present. "Now, on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And, it happened as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here but is risen!" (Luke 24:1-6) It's time to realize that Christ is not just a historical figure but a living Savior who desires to have a relationship with us. We must stop limiting our search for Him to physical places and start seeking Him in our hearts and minds. We must understand that Christ's victory over death is not just a past event but a present reality we can experience daily.
This is why many of us may think that God is unapproachable and far away. This is because we tend to look for Him in the wrong places. Just like the wise men who looked for Him in the manger or Mary and the other women who looked for Him on the cross, we also search for Him in places where He is not. We often see God as someone who is far away, watching over us, rather than someone who is with us every step of the way. However, these feelings can fade if we seek Him more and surrender completely to His presence. We can start by developing a deep relationship with Him every day. God is always beside us, waiting for us to acknowledge Him. He is eagerly waiting with open arms, knocking on the door of our hearts, and all we have to do is open the door to welcome Him in. "20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Revelation3:20-21)
If we remain fixated on the cross without acknowledging that Jesus has risen, our faith becomes unfruitful. We risk submerging ourselves in a state of tragedy, unable to experience the triumph of His Resurrection. When we fail to acknowledge His Resurrection, we forget that Jesus left us with the great blessing of having His Holy Spirit within us. This means we have access to His presence 24/7, a constant source of strength and comfort. He wants us to rejoice in His company. He wants us to enjoy the blessing of walking with Him and have a deeper relationship with Him. To have an intimate relationship with someone, you need to know that person; it is the same with God and the Holy Spirit. You have to get to know them to create strong bonds. The Holy Spirit desires to have personal time with you so that you can become acquainted with Him. It's impossible to operate in the power of someone you don't have a relationship with. Therefore, it's vital to have a close relationship with the Holy Spirit because even though He is the power of God in us, we must activate His power through our relationship with Him.
How can we enjoy the fact that God is alive? The answer lies in getting to know Him through His Word. It is important to read the Bible daily to learn about God's thoughts, feelings, and desires for us. If there are parts we do not understand, we need not worry, as the Holy Spirit can help us interpret them. By seeking to know God, the Holy Spirit will open our understanding to achieve it. Talking to Him daily through prayer and learning to listen to His voice is also paramount. Seeking His advice in all our decisions is crucial, as there is no better guide and advisor than the Holy Spirit of God. We can also show our love for Him by obeying His Word. When we have a close relationship with the Holy Spirit, He becomes our friend. But that friendship must be based on obedience, as Jesus said in John 15:14, "You are my friends if you do what I command you." Obedience to the Word of God makes us His friends.
As we celebrate and commemorate His sacrifice and triumph over death, I invite You to rejoice in His Resurrection, to acknowledge that He has risen among the dead, and it's waiting for you, yes, you. He wants you to enjoy the freedom He gifted us when he rose. He wants you to experience life with Him by your side. A life where you can live with joy knowing that He conquered death, He won, HE LIVES!
