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Easter blessings! He is indeed risen!

The Road Home

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:30

It was night. The sky was dark, and the road looked so long before me. I had a decision to make. Would I keep going? Would I go forward and try to make it home, or would I quit, turn around, or look for another way? I was tired, exhausted really, and the day had been a long one. The thought of going forward seemed more than I could do, much less wanted to do.

Since the introduction of sin in the garden, following the choice to eat the fruit and the introduction of sin and death, the world has gone dark, the road difficult, and exhaustingly filled with tears along the way. God gave us grace through the Law. However, the Law was given to teach us a lesson. We could not be free, not make it on the road of life, not reach home, be at peace in a right relationship with God on our own. No, the darkness of sin surrounded, infected, and wounded us. Sin put us to death and kept us from making it home. Jesus came to walk the road we could not walk for ourselves. He came to run the race, that we simply could not run, and we certainly couldn’t finish on our own. He came to make us victorious in Him!

It amazes me that Jesus went all the way to cross for me. He went all the way to the cross for you. He said to the Father, “Not My will but Yours be done.” He took all our sin, being sinless Himself, He offered Himself up as the One, Only, and True Passover Lamb. He took all my sin, all your sin, and all the sin of the world, past, present, and future upon Himself. Not once did He say, “This is too much for Me!” Not once did He turn around, stop short in His tracks, or quit. No, He resolutely, intentionally, lovingly fulfilled the prophesies of Scripture and gave Himself up willingly to suffer death on the cross for you and me! He finished the path, the course, the race before Him. He crossed the finish line victoriously, and He declared what? “It is finished!” The grip of sin’s chains has been broken. Death has been defeated!

As I exhaustedly looked up that night, not being able to make it one more moment, I saw a light. I realized home was just ahead. Rest, peace, and life were just ahead of me inside the light of my home. Jesus is the Light of the World. He invites us on the road of life to look up to Him, see the forgiveness, accept His grace, and power of the cross to break the chains of sin. He invites us to not get stuck in the graves of the world which threaten us with boulders/stones in front of them, that we cannot move on our own. No, come out into the light and rest at home in the presence of God, knowing that Jesus has defeated the grave and rolled away the stone. Take off the grave clothes and be clothed in the righteousness, holiness, and completeness of Christ. Yes, “It is finished!” Let us live, move, and worship at home in God’s presence every day of our lives, as we walk in the Light and enjoy the victory of the resurrection and life, which Jesus alone could give and gives to us! By grace and faith, let us hear Jesus say to us, “Welcome home!”

Blessings Friends,
Pastor Tim

April 2025