The Son Has Risen
1 Corinthians 15:17–20 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.
My last couple of devotions were about “The Day the Son Went Down,” reminding us that Jesus came down here to this earth for our sake and to be our payment for sin. We would not be thinking about that had He not risen from the dead. The fact that Jesus conquered death, not just for Himself but for us all, is the proof that He is who He claimed to be: The Son of God and the Savior of all people.
While I was pondering the significance of “The Son Has Risen,” I was reminded of a quote my pastor shared earlier this year.
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. (C. S. Lewis)
I do not recall ever having heard this quote before, so I did some research. It was not from any of Lewis’ books that I had read. In fact, it was from a paper Lewis presented to the Oxford Socratic Club, entitled “Is Theology Poetry?” He is addressing the question “Why do people believe Christianity is true?” Is it merely because it is an attractive story that satisfies our imaginations? Lewis counters that by pointing out that Christianity is grounded in historical fact, something that sets it apart from other world views or moral codes.
In Christ, we encounter the one who is in control of everything. Knowing God through our relationship with Jesus is what helps us understands everything else in this world.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
God shines His light into our hearts because of our faith in Jesus. That helps us see the world from the proper perspective.
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. (C. S. Lewis)
(Some of the information in this devotion was found here: https://www.travisdickinson.com/cs-lewis-believing-sun-rise/)
_______________________________________________________________________
You are invited to join Donna Snow, Cheryl and me on a Reformation Tour “In the Footsteps of Luther,” April 6-17, 2025. You can find the brochure here. It promises to be a wonderful trip. If you have any questions, contact me: mike@revmattil.org
