Resurrection Sunday

My sin – Oh the bliss of this glorious thought – My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!  (It Is Well – Hymn)

Though It is Well isn’t really considered an Easter Hymn, because of its third verse (quoted above), it’s the song I always think of when I consider Resurrection Sunday. Whenever we sing it, I know that third verse is coming, and I know I’m going to get a little emotional. If you watched me singing it in church, and even now as I’m writing about it, I can’t help but get a little teary eyed. These aren’t tears of sadness though. Rather, they are tears of joy, as I’m reminded by the lyrics of the profound truth of Resurrection Sunday – I am forgiven and free. Because of Christ’s sacrificial death I’m forgiven and because of his resurrection, I have a new life in him.

I know the mistakes I’ve made in life, and I know how much I’ve been forgiven. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little (Luke 7:47). I remember the misery of the old life and I’m profoundly thankful for the new life. So, when I consider Resurrection Sunday and I think about what Christ has done for me, I can’t help but get a little emotional.

Today, on Easter, it’s relatively easy to remember where I’ve been and where God has brought me. The challenge for me every other day of the year, is to keep that in mind. After ten plus years of sobriety, it’s easy to think that I’ve got life figured out and that I no longer need a savior. I’m good now. That, however, is the kind of thinking that preceded every relapse I ever had. So, my daily challenge is to remember that I need Christ today, just as much as I did back in the disaster of my addiction.

In Luke 18, Jesus told the story of a Pharisee who stood pridefully in the temple, condescending to the sinners around him, and prayed like this – God, I thank you that I am not like other men (Luke 18:11). Meanwhile, one of those wretches upon whom he was looking down, a tax collector, prayed like this – God, be merciful to me, a sinner (Luke 18:13)! Jesus went on to say that it was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home forgiven that day.

So, that is the challenge for me every day – not just on Easter – to remember where I’ve been, what Christ has done for me, and that I still need him. It is a blissful thought to remember that I’m forgiven, but the truth is, I’m still a sinner and I still need him as much today as I did back in the disaster of my addiction.