Well we are at the end of the month of March.  And as far as the coronavirus goes, it came in like a lamb March 1st and is going out like a lion, just the opposite of how March should be.  However, I hope all of you reading this are safe and well.  It has been a long month of coping and it looks like maybe another month of separation.  And it looks like one of my worst fears is going to happen.  When I thought about canceling church two and a half weeks ago, I thought, “If we start canceling church now, we might not be able to worship on Easter together.  And more and more that seems to be the case.  I can think of nothing worse than having no fellowship and worship and praise being lifted up on this holiest day of the year.  Yes we can still listen to music on the radio or sermons on Facebook, but not being together corporately to hear and participate in giving God the glory for the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ is the WORST thing that could ever happen.

 

This is other then the resurrection not happening in the first place.  Let me remind you of what Paul says about the resurrection.  “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. . . . 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 to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Cor 15:14-20)

 

This is Easter.  Not a worship service celebrated once a year, but a realization that our preaching and our faith are real every day of the year.  (P.S. you might hear this line in one of my sermons coming up.)