By Allen White
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both
were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He
bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then
Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the
strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around
Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally
the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw
and believed. John
20:3-8
In
the race to the tomb, Peter came in second. Peter, who was the first to walk on
water (Matthew 14:28), who was the first to draw his sword (John 18:10), was
outrun by John. But, Peter still entered the tomb first. Some things never
change.
In
the tomb, Peter and John discovered the grave clothes. If someone had taken the
body, they wouldn’t have bothered to unwrap it. Peter took it all in. John saw
and believed.
The
open tomb meant that the body was gone. Whether by grave robbers or
conspirators, the assumptions were wide open. But, what they discovered inside
led to only one conclusion: Jesus came back from the dead. He had power over
sin and death. John had the evidence he needed to believe.
Where
do your doubts lie these days? Some people wonder whether they are truly saved.
They keep doing the things that they don’t want to do. The old tapes that are
running in their minds and the old patterns that produce the same old results make
them wonder where the power of God is in their lives.
The
enemy’s only tool is to convince us that we are powerless over sin. Even though
we have a Savior who conquered death, Hell and the grave (1 Corinthians
15:54-56), our enemy wants us to stay trapped in doubt and destructive
behaviors.
When
trainers work with elephants, they take the young elephants and tie them to a
stake that is driven deeply in the ground. The young elephant tugs and tugs,
but can never release itself from that stake. Once the elephant is convinced of
being powerless over the stake, the trainer doesn’t have to drive the stake so
far into the ground.
Adult
elephants are tied to stakes that they could easily break free from – except
they don’t think they can. The elephant possesses the power, but lacks the
belief.
Many
of us are like that elephant. There are things in our lives that have been
dogging us for years. Jesus died to save us from sin. Jesus died to redeem us
and to forgive. The power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in every believer
(Romans 8:11). There is nothing that can keep us from the love of God (Romans
8:38-39). Yet, many of us are convinced that we can never break the tie to our
sinful behavior.
What
sin has dogged you for years? How has it harmed you? How has it harmed others?
The goal of your life is not merely to forsake sin, but to live a full life in
Christ. God has so much more for you. Ask God to help you. Ask a believing
friend to support you. Find a small group to rally around you. It’s time for
you to be free.
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