Running on Empty

Running On Empty

Most of the time that sounds like a bad thing doesn't it?  When we are running on empty usually means we've stretched ourselves too thin, aren't getting enough rest, and have too many irons in the fire.  But, did you ever think of it in another way? I'm talking about a differnt kind of empty and it's a good thing!

We live with the HOPE of what Jesus Christ did for us, not only dying on the cross for our sins, not only defeating death, hell, and sin, but He rose from the grave and left an empty tomb, and because of that empty tomb, we have the hope of eternal life and salvation from our sins, therefore, we are running this race in life with God because of the empty tomb. 

So when I say "running on empty" it's a good thing!  We focus a lot on the cross and Jesus death, but so many times, we forget to focus on what was even more important, that HE ROSE!  He overcame death!  He defeated it! He not only defeated death, but in the process became sin on our behalf and took our sin and defeated it, and because of defeating death and sin, He defeated Hell, which is the punishment of sin and sin brought death into the world.

Only a perfect sacrifice from God could ever defeat sin, death, and hell.  That victory is symbolic in the empty tomb.  We have life because of His death.  We have forgiveness of sins because of Him becoming our sin.  We have a choice to spend eternity in Heaven instead of Hell because He overcame hell.  Do you see why the empty tomb is reason to celebrate? Do you see why we can run this race of life with confidence because of the empty tomb?  Do you why we have hope in this world because of Jesus?

People live their lives every day going about their daily business and routines and chasing after things of this world that they think will give their life meaning, value, and purpose, but they are running and chasing in vain.  They are filling their lives with all sorts of things and none of them can bring peace, purpose, value, or hope.  Only Jesus Christ with His death on the cross, His defeat of sin, His victory over hell, and most importantly that empty tomb gives anyone and everyone who will accept it everything they could ever need for purpospe, peace, value, meaning, and hope!

Are you running on empty today? 

John 20:1-10(NIV)
¹ Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.