Heart
Guard your heart. It's the wellspring of life. -- ancient proverb

Most people assume the cross is the total work of Christ. The two go hand in hand – Jesus Christ and the cross; the cross and Christ. The resurrection is impressive, but an afterthought for many Christ-followers. I mean, we really do like the resurrection. After all, we get a new outfit AND we score in the candy department. We might even hunt an easter egg and shout he’s alive. The resurrection is important to us... maybe like an extra point after a touchdown or the medal ceremony after the Olympic event… not the big kahuna.

This thought might cause a bit of introspection. The cross was never meant to be the sole central symbol of the faith. I mean, art historians say that early art was focused on miracles, healings, life transformation and the resurrection. Give or take a few years, it was not until around 430 that the first artistic focus on the cross occurs….400 years…. are you kidding me!? This is challenging to us…. Not that we diminish the cross… it is just that there is more….

Paul says, If Christ is not raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith…..

Listen to multiple accounts of the early church chronicled in the book of Acts…. Peter stood and said, we are witnesses of the resurrection…. Peter and John were speaking to people and making proclamation of the resurrection… With great power the followers of Christ continued to testify to the resurrection of Jesus Christ…. Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection….

A dead person is not a lot of help to us. A dead God is even worse! But life, real life, the power of God to restore life.. the power of God to resurrect from the dead. The power of God to restore you… to bring our dead heart fully alive, now that’s a whole new matter. Christ died for you – right on… Christ was raised for us! Whoo hooo!

I came that you might have life.. have a new heart.. live with passion… We are saved by His death and we are saved unto His life…. I am a citizen of heaven! We are free to be what he meant for us to become. You have a new life – that life of Christ.. You have a new heart. Do you know what this means. Your heart is good. You are transformed. That’s what Paul means when He says, live to the level you have attained… Live to a person who is forgiven, freed, and filled with the very resurrected life of Christ… Live with a person who has been given life… Live with heart!

You are a citizen of heaven…Your heart is circumcised toward God…. I was in a conversation awhile back… wrestling with this and a friend said, If I believed that, I could do anything! We would follow Him anywhere! Exactly – it would change our lives…. It would change the trajectory of our lives… It would change priorites… our passion would be released…. We would be resurrected to new life…. It would change the face of Christianity – We would be fully alive! It would make for a proclamation of freedom…. It would mean LIFE!

Yes, we boast gladly and loudly in the cross of Christ for in the cross is the remission of sin… but, we also hold boldly to the resurrection of Christ for in that explosion of life is the light to all men… it is the stamp of authenticity….. it is the hope of glory… it is the explosion of life into our hearts…. It is the catalytic force that will compel us anywhere, anytime, in all ways for His glory… It is actually the good news that will allow us to be a room full of 17’s…. It is actually the good news for this world…… It is the news of freedom…

So, I am percolating this week on a bit of art history. Could it be that God wants the Emmanuel family to be a canvas through which He will render one of the most amazing, God glorifying pieces of art ever recorded? Could it be?! Could it be that God is searching for a group of people who are radically, passionately devoted to Him and He will live and 'image' a masterpiece through us. I think that He longs to bring LIFE through our lives and that He will demonstrate this remarkable resurrection power through the canvas of a people who are turned on to Him. May the artwork of our lives - - together -- be an amazing tapestry of God's goodness, grace, and life.

Enjoy this week. We are forgiven, freed, and made alive. Live!

Feel free to add to the commentary by hitting 'comments' below.

Mark