Monday, 4/22/19 – Pressing on…

Welcome to Monday — Manic Monday…. Mr. Monday, me oh my…. Monday, Monday (couldn’t guarantee)… Rainy Days and Mondays (always get me down).*

The Easter weekend has ended and the world quickly changes gears. Chocolate bunnies are half price, the tulips are trashed and out come the Victoria Day fireworks! Easter isn’t news any more. Not on Monday.

We had our fun! Hid the eggs, had a holiday weekend, a few big feasts and families gathered. Perhaps Friday we reflected on Him… that bloodied man, the nails, a cross. Sunday we rejoiced! Resurrection tickled our ears with some vague ideas about immortality, but then it was over. Monday beckoned… Mundane Monday.

Today you have important things to do… papers to sign… bills to pay… the 9-to-5 to fill… and the rush hour home. The pastor’s question, “What does the Resurrection of Christ mean to me?” seemed appropriate on Sunday, but what has it to do with Monday?

Is that your world? I certainly hope not! Paul was first to admit, the man who lives in that world, a world without the hope of resurrection, is indeed “most miserable.” He states,

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Cor. 15:16-19)

Why pitied? Because without hope of resurrection we bear our trials for no purpose, we testify of our trust to no end. Christ is no better than some sort of genie to help us through a brief few decades of existence. We are no better than a dog, less significant than a redwood or a few rare turtles that live to be 400.

Paul asks, “What have I gained? If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’”

But Christ has indeed come into this world, lived His few brief decades, died, and also risen. While He walked with us He showed us the Love and plan of the Father. He brought us a salvation, a way out of our lostness and sin, darkness and defeat! Now He sends you and I into this world with this same mission: to reflect the Father, to lead men out of darkness and into the hope of resurrection.

“What does the Resurrection of Christ mean to me?” It means my very life. The resurrection is the real thing. And you and I are placed here to bring this reality into each of our mundane Monday mornings, wherever they be.

Paul ends with a warning, that we not let this world turn tables on us.

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” (v.33, 34)

It’s Monday – get in there saint, and shine! YOU have the hope of eternity to bring them.

More tomorrow…

* If you’d really like to pursue this “songs about Monday” theme, here’s a YouTube link to the top ten  — but a better use of your time would be to visit Lincoln Baptist Church. Click on the April 21 message under Media to hear Pastor Steve’s message “The Joy of Easter.”