I remember when I lived in the Northeast, there was this tree that blended in with all of the rest ... until Fall came. That's when it would become the most brilliant and the most beautiful of all the trees in our area.
Seeing that beautiful tree always made me think of the resurrection when some pretty ordinary people will literally burst forth and shine with differing degrees of glory, depending only upon their love for God.
Amazing stuff is coming people!
"The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:41-42).
In 1922, Howard Carter made what is probably the greatest archeological discovery in history. He found the ancient tomb of the Pharaoh, known as Tutankhamun or King Tut. This was significant because, unlike other tombs that had been emptied by grave robbers, this tomb was full of priceless artifacts, as well as the body of King Tut himself.
It took eight years to remove and document the contents of the tomb. The mummified remains and his treasures were sent all over the world. Millions upon millions of people stood in line for hours just to catch a glimpse of a dead king. The whole world celebrated because that tomb was NOT empty.
As Christians, we celebrate because of the tomb that WAS empty! When the tomb of Jesus was discovered by women two thousand years ago, they expected to find his body. But instead, an angel said, “He is not here. He is risen!” (Matthew 28:6).
The empty tomb of Jesus Christ is filled with more reason to celebrate than the full tomb of King Tut!
Back in the 80s, I worked for a kind-hearted man who owned a small sign shop. He was far from the most successful businessman I'd ever met, but he treated his customers with respect and fairness. I remember how downhearted he was when he told me his pickup had been stolen. A couple of months later, the truck was returned but in a very unusual way. The story, which made national news, was featured by Paul Harvey.
Here's how it appeared in the local paper:
DEWITT, Mich. (UPI) -- Kelly Terrell says the person who stole his 1975 Chevrolet pickup truck can take it again "any time he wants to." That's because Terrell, whose truck was taken from a shopping mall in December, got the vehicle back Sunday --with a fresh coat of paint and a number of other repairs. Terrell told police Monday he had received a call from a stranger who lectured him about his truck's poor condition. The stranger then told Terrelll he could find the pickup in the parking lot where it had been stolen.
When Terrel arrived at the lot, he found his truck and a three-page list of repairs made by the thief. In addition to sanding and painting the pickup, the thief performed bodywork and made a number of mechanical repairs. 'It is not a practical joke,' Terrell said. 'I have no idea who the man is. It is all very strange, but that man can steal my vehicle any time he wants to.'
The Bible tells us that God gives but He also takes away (Job 1:21). Our health, our earthly treasures, and even our life will all one day be taken. But there's nothing that God takes away that He will not return to us, only in much better shape than it was before!
"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25, ESV).
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