I was walking through the historic cemetery in our town and noticed that someone had installed a statue of Jesus facing one of the tombs.
At first glance, I recognized the statue as someone’s expression of their faith based on a particular expression of their belief system, but something else caught my attention.
It reminded me of where Jesus now resides. He is not watching graves in a pose of sorrow. The Lord sits in a place of unimagined heavenly authority above all people and all-natural expressions of earthly authority. He is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
After Jesus’ death, when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the Lord’s empty tomb, an angel appeared to them and said, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen” (Matthew 28:5-6).
Paul clarified where Jesus went after His resurrection. He went to His throne to assume His place of authority. That place of authority has also been given to us: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand” (Colossians 3:1).
Paul said, “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God” (vs. 3). Our real life, not a cemetery expression of it, is hidden in Christ. That is where our faith and joy come from. Realizing we have been hidden with Christ in Heaven, we can live a different life here on Earth.
Paul had a prayer request for all of us who would follow Jesus: “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now, he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself” (Ephesians 1: 19-23).
Since Jesus “fills all things everywhere with Himself,” He is not limited to a cemetery expression of life or any other place where we sense a loss. He is seated on His throne, inviting all people to come to Him and share His glory. That understanding will change how we express loss in this life and how we choose to live out our faith, knowing that death is not the end of our story.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Garris Elkins
Featured Image by Unsplash
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