Monday to Sunday
Last Monday, I had one of those “Oh no!!” moments. I have been teaching a leadership class each Monday this year at Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac, Michigan. We are in the middle of a pretty intense, foundational part of the teaching and I spent time on Sunday night preparing for the class and packing my briefcase with my notes and some books I use.
That morning, I woke early to get my high school daughter up and out the door, and then get ready for what was going to be a busy day. After she left, I hurriedly cleaned up and started packing the car. I would teach class first, but then I had 2 doctor appointments and after that, I would go to a friend’s house on the other side of town to help with some projects in her new home. I needed to bring whatever tools I could think of, and time was getting tight. At the last minute, I remembered to bring some work clothes, since I was wearing nicer threads for teaching. On the road, on time...whew!
While driving to my class, I like to listen to a Christian talk channel and one of my favorites, Pastor Alastair Begg from Chagrin Falls, Ohio was teaching. As it is the Christian Holy Week approaching Easter, he was teaching on Jesus’ resurrection. It was a bit of a coincidence (or was it), because I had prepared to spend some time talking in class about the coming celebration of Good Friday to Easter Sunday and it’s significance to Christians. I was excited that Alastair would be talking about it as I would be able to get some expert perspective. His talk didn’t disappoint, and I even had to try to remember a quote until I was at the next stoplight, where I wrote it on a napkin, to use in my class.
I arrived at Grace Centers of Hope and opened my back door to get my briefcase...OH NO!!, it wasn’t there! I checked the back end and the memory then rushed to me that it was still on my kitchen table! I stopped and said a little prayer, asking for help remembering what I prepared. I then had a nice calm come over me; “WE have got this, do not worry.”
I won’t go into the whole teaching of the day, but the bottom line message I was left with, which I tried to impart to my class is that without Jesus’ resurrection, we have no hope for the future. So, we just live our lives, but a vapor of time in the great scheme of things, and then we just die? Why try to live a life worth living? Why live trying to serve my family or anyone else? Why put forth any effort at work? Do it just so the survivors at my funeral can say “he was really a good guy”? Hopeless.
The resurrection is a historical fact and it changed everything. Certainly for those who believe but also for all who may not. All the relatives of anyone’s bloodline, at least beyond one hundred years, dead. Great world leaders, dead. Great religious leaders from all walks of life, dead. Jesus of Nazareth, dead on Friday, verified dead by the Romans but raised to life on Sunday. Seen by more than 500 people. A religious leadership and a Roman government who could have refuted the event, but too many witnessed both Jesus’ death and then Jesus walking, talking and eating 3 days later.
The resurrection changed the course of human history and still carries it’s power today, and it also carries the promise for all; believe in Him, His death and resurrection and all can live for eternity with Him. Without prejudice. No matter our past. On the cross, He said “It is finished.”
Last Monday, I was given my teaching instruction on the way to class, before I knew I didn’t have my briefcase with me. Jesus had my back then, He has it today and He will have it tomorrow. I am always humbled to ponder this reality. His life and His teaching is at the core of who I am and what I love to teach, servant leadership. By the way, the quote which I wrote on the napkin?; “What you believe about your future has a direct relationship to your behavior in the present.” So true!
Please check back soon. Until we meet again, God bless you! JG